All cleared for Bush visit

New Delhi, Mar 1: All potential threats from air and ground will be removed from the path before US President George W Bush arrives here tonight for three days of bilateral negotiations with India.

No other flights will be allowed to land or take off from the airport for an hour during the period, official sources said. The US President was scheduled to arrive at the Palam Technical area at 2000 hrs, but the flight is likely to be delayed in view of his surprise 5-hour stopover in Afghanistan enroute.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and union minister Kapil Sibal will be present at the airport to receive the visiting head of state, the sources said.

After the fleet of US aircraft lands, the dignitaries will leave in a cavalcade of 60 vehicles for the Maurya Sheraton Hotel, where the President will stay. Police will be deployed all along the 9 km route which will be barred for all other traffic.

Delhi police will assist US secret service personnel in security duty at the hotel. Hotel staff and Indian security personnel have been given special passes.

Tight police arrangements have also been made at the Purana Quila, Rajghat and other places where the delegates are scheduled to visit.

The administration has asked the people to avoid routes that the US President would take to avoid security hassles.

Policemen in plainclothes had been deployed in sensitive pockets of the city, Delhi Metro, Railway stations and bus terminals.

UNI