Obama reaffirms relationship between countries

BARACK Obama has reaffirmed the special relationship between the US and Britain and declared that together the two countries “stand squarely on the side of those who long to be free”.

Rounding off his state visit to Britain, the president rejected the argument that the rise of new economic powers such as China had sidelined Europe and America, insisting that “the time for our leadership is now”.

At a “pivotal moment” in history, with demands for democracy across the Arab world and an international coalition fighting oppression in Libya, Britain and the US remained “indispensable to the goal of a century which is more peaceful, more prosperous and more just”, Obama said.