Pope raises Iraq fears in meeting with Bush

Anti-Christian discrimination by the majority Muslim population of Iraq was raised by Pope Benedict XVI at a meeting with US President George Bush in the Vatican today.

President Bush said the Pope wanted to discuss the "the worrisome situation in Iraq" and the treatment of Christians in the country.

At a press conference later with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, Bush said of the Pope: "He was concerned that the society that was evolving would not tolerate the Christian religion.

"He's worrisome about the Christians inside Iraq being mistreated by the Muslim majority."

The war was vigorously opposed by the late Pope John Paul II, and Benedict, in his Easter message, denounced the "continual slaughter" in Iraq.

Bush said he assured the Pope that the US was working hard to ensure that the Iraqi people treat Christians fairly.

Bush arrived in Rome on Friday night after a stop in the Czech Republic, three days at a summit of industrialised democracies on Germany's northern coast, and a four-hour visit to Poland. A stomach ailment forced Bush to miss a few meetings at the summit in Germany.

He flashed a thumbs-up when asked if he was better, though White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino said the president was still was "not 100%".

The President stays in Rome tonight before going on to Albania and Bulgaria.

The pontiff expressed his hope for a regional solution to conflicts in the Middle East, the Vatican said.

"We talked about our attempts to help the people in Africa deal with HIV/Aids and malaria and hunger," Bush said. "I reminded him that we've made a significant commitment to that end."

The President promised the Pope he would work to get Congress to double the current US commitment for combating Aids in Africa to $30bn (€22.45bn) over the next five years.

The Pope asked the President about his meeting in Germany with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has expressed opposition to a US missile shield in Europe.

"The dialogue with Putin was also good?" the Pope asked. Bush, eyeing photographers and reporters who were about to be escorted from the room, replied: "I'll tell you in a minute."

Anti-globalisation and far-left activists from across Italy converged on the capital for Bush's visit.

Police swarmed around the Colosseum, the central Piazza Venezia and other venues amid fears that a protest planned around Bush's visit could turn violent. Helicopters circled overhead. Up to 10,000 police deployed, local media reported.

Bush stressed that US-Italy relations were "pretty darn solid".

Prodi agreed, saying: "We do share the same views with regard to many issues and many matters. We basically agree on how the future of the world should look, should be."

While in Rome, Bush took time to meet former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Prodi ousted Berlusconi a year ago, replacing a like-minded conservative and strong ally of Bush's with a centre-left leader whose government has spared Washington no criticism.

"He is the opposition leader and he is a friend," Bush said, explaining his decision to visit Berlusconi.