Bush in Afghanistan today, says official
US President George Bush planned to visit Afghanistan today and meet President Hamid Karzai, an Afghan official said.
Mr Bush's plane touched down in Shannon around midnight and the US president disembarked for about 20 minutes to have his picture taken with some troops who were also passing through the airport. Reports this morning claimed the operation cost the Irish taxpayer €300,000.
The official, who was familiar with Karzai’s schedule but did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, said the two leaders would have lunch and hold a joint press conference.
US Embassy officials in Kabul today declined to comment on whether Bush would visit Afghanistan later in the day.
The US President departed Washington yesterday on a trip to South Asia, with stops scheduled in India and Pakistan, amid speculation he would make an unannounced stop in Afghanistan. He was to arrive in India late today.
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