Bush arrives on a 4-hour visit

Hyderabad, Mar 3 (UNI) US President George W Bush today arrived at the Begumpet Airport here by 'Air Force One' along with his wife Laura Bush for a four-hour visit to the city.

Andhra Pradesh Governor Rameshwar Thakur and Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy received him at the airport.

The US President then left by a special American Air Force helicopter to the Acharya N G Ranga Agriculture University (ANGRAU) in Rajendranagar, on the outskirts of the city, where he would interact with some 'progressive' farmers.

The areas being visited by Mr Bush wore a deserted look of curfew with US security forces and the local police taking no chances on security in the wake of US intelligence reports that the US President could be attacked by snipers.

Every building in the Gachi Bowli area where Mr Bush will interact with the business community in the Indian School of Business (ISB) and Rajendranagar was searched by the US forces and the local police thoroughly.

No one is being allowed to move in the roads the US President is scheduled to travel.

After his copter landed at a specially prepared helipad in the ANGRAU, Mr Bush left in a convoy of 20 vehicles specially brought by the White House security officials from the US.

Mr Bush will be travelling about 2 km from ANGRAU to ISB in a motorcade. The road has been totally sealed off. Policemen weilding automatic weapons were seen all along the route. Sharp shooters were deployed on top of all buildings.

There were restrictions even on the media.

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