Bush pleased at `beautiful weather'

It was a pleasant morning as US President George W Bush drove up to the Rashtrapati Bhawan for the ceremonial welcome, and he could not resist thanking his hosts for "arranging such a beautiful weather."

A slightly chilly breeze blew across the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhawan and the sun shone brightly as Bush took the salute at the impressive welcome ceremony.

"I also thank you for arranging such a beautiful weather," Bush quipped after expressing his gratitude to President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for a grand reception.

Bush and Laura, who arrived here last night on a three-day visit, were received by Kalam and Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur as the cavalcade of bullet-proof cars reached the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

As guns boomed with national anthems of both countries being played by a three services brass band, the US President walked up for the guard of honour and inspected it.

Bush was then introduced by the Prime Minister to the key members of his council of ministers including Pranab Mukherjee, Shivraj Patil, P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal, national security adviser M K Narayanan and the three service chiefs.

US President was accompanied by his secretary of state Condoleeza Rice, national security adviser Stephen Hadley, under secretary of state Nicholas Burns and ambassador to India David Mulford.

After the ceremonial reception, Bush left for Mahatma Gandhi's samadhi at Rajghat amidst an unprecedented security cover.