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02/05/2003
US Defence Secretary visits UK
The US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is to have talks on Friday with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and UK counterpart Geoff Hoon.
The talks are scheduled to take place at Chequers, the Prime Minister's country residence.
Mr Rumsfeld, who visited Iraq and Afghanistan earlier this week, will be discussing the reconstruction of both countries following the formal cessation of major military activities in Iraq.
A Downing Street spokesperson said that the Prime Minister would use his meeting with Donald Rumsfeld at Chequers today to "stress the importance of the US's role in rebuilding international relations after the conflict".
He also said that the Prime Minister would want to use the opportunity today to hear from Secretary Rumsfeld about issues on the ground following his recent visits to Afghanistan and Iraq and post-conflict military issues.
During his visit to Baghdad Mr Rumsfeld said that troops would only remain in Iraq until a free and democratic government was established in the country.
Yesterday US President George W. Bush, aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, addressed the American people from the deck of the carrier, which was off the coast of California.
In his emotive address Mr Bush, pictured against a backdrop of the carrier’s flight control tower emblazoned with a stylised stars-and-stripes banner reading 'Mission Accomplished', announced that the fighting in Iraq was formally at an end.
The President, who praised the courage of the coalition forces, in a battle fought for “the cause of liberty, and for the peace of the world” confirmed that “major combat operations in Iraq had ended”.
Mr Bush said that the coalition was now engaged in securing and reconstructing Iraq.
(SP)
The talks are scheduled to take place at Chequers, the Prime Minister's country residence.
Mr Rumsfeld, who visited Iraq and Afghanistan earlier this week, will be discussing the reconstruction of both countries following the formal cessation of major military activities in Iraq.
A Downing Street spokesperson said that the Prime Minister would use his meeting with Donald Rumsfeld at Chequers today to "stress the importance of the US's role in rebuilding international relations after the conflict".
He also said that the Prime Minister would want to use the opportunity today to hear from Secretary Rumsfeld about issues on the ground following his recent visits to Afghanistan and Iraq and post-conflict military issues.
During his visit to Baghdad Mr Rumsfeld said that troops would only remain in Iraq until a free and democratic government was established in the country.
Yesterday US President George W. Bush, aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, addressed the American people from the deck of the carrier, which was off the coast of California.
In his emotive address Mr Bush, pictured against a backdrop of the carrier’s flight control tower emblazoned with a stylised stars-and-stripes banner reading 'Mission Accomplished', announced that the fighting in Iraq was formally at an end.
The President, who praised the courage of the coalition forces, in a battle fought for “the cause of liberty, and for the peace of the world” confirmed that “major combat operations in Iraq had ended”.
Mr Bush said that the coalition was now engaged in securing and reconstructing Iraq.
(SP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Continuing cloudy through the evening with further outbreaks of rain, the rain turning lighter and patchier from the south as the night progresses. Winds remain light. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
