Protests greet Bush arrival at summit

A CROWD of 10,000 protesters chanting “Get out Bush!” swarmed the streets of the Argentine resort of Mar Del Plata yesterday, hours before the hemisphere’s leaders sat down to debate free trade, immigration and job creation.

Thousands greeted a train bringing the last group of demonstrators from Buenos Aires, including Bolivian presidential hopeful Evo Morales and Diego Maradona, who donned a T-shirt accusing George Bush of war crimes.

Chanting "Fascist Bush! You are the terrorist!" the protesters hung from the engine and moved up the sides of the train.

Later, they took to the streets, heading toward a stadium where Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made a speech before joining the Summit of the Americas.

Mr Chavez arrived early yesterday, saying he was "inspired" by the protesters, who also oppose the negotiations to form a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) stretching from Alaska to Argentina.

"Today the FTAA is dead and we are going to bury it here. We are here to change the course of history," he said on arrival.

But Mexican President Vicente Fox, one of the region's biggest free trade proponents, told reporters that Venezuela and other nations opposed to the FTAA may be left behind as the rest of the hemisphere considers moving forward on creating a huge free trade zone.

One marcher, Canadian steelworker Dennis Matteau, said free trade must be stopped. "We have NAFTA, so we know about free trade deals," he said. "They are not good for workers."

The march was mostly peaceful, although some self-proclaimed anarchists spray-painted slogans on a bank. Most businesses along the route had closed.

Mr Bush met with Argentine President Nestor Kirchner as well as Central American and Andean leaders yesterday before joining the 34-nation summit.

Leaders attending the two-day summit agreed ahead of time to focus on creating jobs and reducing poverty. In recent days, however, attention has shifted to the free trade issue and sparring between the US and Mr Chavez.

Washington maintains the proposed free trade accord, which has stalled amid opposition by several Latin American countries, is vital to creating jobs and increasing wealth in the region.

Mr Chavez, who regularly claims Washington is trying to overthrow him, has said free trade is being forced on Latin American countries and the deal would only help the rich. Instead, he is promoting anti-FTAA deal based on socialist ideals.

Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary-general of the Organisation of American States the Washington-based group that organised the summit said he was disappointed by the attention given to the free trade deal.

But Mr Bush seemed to be winning over supporters. A high-ranking Brazilian official, who said he was not authorised to give his name, told reporters 28 of the 34 countries participating in the summit had agreed to relaunch trade talks as early as April.