Putin to Get Full Bush Hospitality

The US president has invited Vladimir Putin to the Bush family compound at Kennebunkport in Maine, in an attempt to resolve the row over a planned missile defense system in eastern Europe.

Mr Bush's advisers have suggested that now is not a good time to fall out with Russia, and its president, considering the struggle to cope with the Iraq conflict and a host of other problems, including Iran.

The White House press spokesman, Tony Snow, today announced the visit by Mr Putin, who is to stay overnight at the compound at the start of July.

Mr Bush normally invites favored guests to the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, or to his ranch at Crawford, Texas, or to the White House for an overnight stay, as he did Tony Blair earlier this month.

An invitation to the family summer resort in Maine is rare.

Mr Snow said the two main issues on the agenda would be missile defense and Iran. He insisted the missile defense system would benefit Russia as it was intended to block attacks from rogue states.

Although Russia shares US suspicion that Iran is seeking to secure a nuclear weapons capability, Moscow is reluctant to take the kind of tough action being sought by Mr Bush.