President Bush visits Afghanistan
US President George W Bush has arrived in Kabul in a surprise stop at the start of a maiden trip to South Asia.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai greeted Mr Bush, who is making his first visit to the country since the US-led overthrow of the Taleban in 2001.
The US has about 20,000 troops in Afghanistan, where they are hunting al-Qaeda and Taleban fighters.
Later on Wednesday, Mr Bush will head to India, where some 20,000 people have protested in Delhi against the visit.
In a sudden change to a schedule kept secret for security reasons, Mr Bush headed to Afghanistan before, rather than after, his visit to India.
Security is tight in Kabul, with reports of helicopters flying over the city and US military Humvees patrolling the streets.
Ahead of the US president's arrival, Kabul airspace was closed to civilian air traffic.
We are confident in the security precautions that have been taken. One of those was not informing you of the trip until now said an official.
Mr Bush immediately headed to the presidential palace with Mr Karzai for talks.
President Bush is accompanied by wife Laura and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The president is also expected to address US troops at the main Bagram air base.
Technorati Tags:
posted by zoe @ 2:21 AM
Comments: 0
