Bush, Blair to discuss Iraq, Northern Ireland on final day of summit

BELFAST (AFP) Apr 08, 2003
US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair were Tuesday due to discuss the war in Iraq and the peace process in Northern Ireland during the second and final day of their summit here.

The two leaders, who held a working dinner at Hillsborough Castle outside Belfast on Monday, were to resume their talks at 9:45 am (0845 GMT), spending their first hour getting a full briefing on Iraq war developments.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw were to sit in on the discussions.

After a press conference around 11 am (1000 GMT), Bush and Blair were to discuss the Northern Ireland peace process together with Ireland's Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

The summit, during which the two leaders also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, marks the third time that Bush and Blair have met face to face in less than a month, and their second meeting since their nations went to war against Iraq on March 20.

SPACE.WIRE