Guardian UK: Bush faces protests and tight security (in Brazil)

[marmar]

Rory Carroll, Latin America correspondent
Friday March 9, 2007
The Guardian


President George Bush last night started a five-nation tour of Latin America in an effort to salvage Washington's reputation in the region and counter the influence of Venezuela's president, Hugo Chávez.

Violent clashes were taking place between police and masked protesters in the financial centre of Sao Paulo, the president's first stop. Rioters threw rocks at police who answered with rubber bullets and tear gas bombs. Bystanders fled the smoke-filled streets outside the art museum as running battles erupted. Several loud explosions shook the area.

Earlier protesters in Brazil signalled widespread hostility to the US leader by briefly shutting down an iron mine, invading an ethanol distillery, occupying a bank and unfurling a banner in parliament.

A massive security effort will mobilise about 4,000 police officers and soldiers as Mr Bush's cavalcade of 60 vehicles drives through the sprawling metropolis.

Further protests will be led by Mr Chávez, who is scheduled to address a rally at a stadium in Buenos Aires, the Argentinian capital, just 30 miles from a ranch in Uruguay where Mr Bush is due to meet Uruguay's president, Tabaré Vázquez.

The six-day tour is a belated response to the region's "pink tide" of leftwing governments and US Democrats' accusations that Mr Bush has "lost" Latin America.

Anger over the Iraq war and rows about trade and immigration have eroded US authority in what it once considered its backyard, giving Mr Chávez a clear run to use bulging oil revenues to court support for his brand of socialism. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2029998,00.html

[Broadslidin]

1. Not to Fret, Tis Only a "Georgie Double" Making the Trip.....!

Our Fearless :hide: Leader and his freshly powdered pals,
Jeff and Karl have Other Plans in the Hills of Northern Maryland..!