Hurricane Dean Hastens 'Three Amigos' Summit

Bush meets neighbors, Calderon leaves early, protests turn violent
By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 21, 2007 6:28 AM CDT
Hurricane Dean Hastens 'Three Amigos' Summit
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, center, U.S. President George W. Bush, right and Mexican President Felipe Calderon wave to photographers as they arrive for dinner at the North American Leaders Summit in Montebello, Que., Monday Aug. 20, 2007. (AP Photo/CP, Adrian Wyld)   (Associated Press)

President Bush met with his counterparts from north and south yesterday at a Canadian summit overshadowed by Hurricane Dean and greeted with violent protests. The so-called "Three Amigos" met in a Quebec château ringed by a huge security wall, outside which police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters. The summit continues today, but Mexican President Felipe Calderon is leaving early to oversee the hurricane response.

Canadian PM Stephen Harper pressed Bush on the newly contentious issue of Arctic sovereignty, Calderon discussed a new Mexican program to combat the drug trade, and both leaders harangued Bush on new, stricter passport controls. Outside the security cordon Quebec riot police fell upon protesters, including a group of older women called the Raging Grannies, after they disobeyed restrictions on their demonstration. (More George W. Bush stories.)

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