Bush challenges Slovak leader to foot race

WASHINGTON, Mar 14 (Reuters) President George W Bush took a look at Slovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda's broken leg and joked that now would be a good time for a foot race between them.

Bush has largely given up running in favour of mountain biking to ease the pounding on his 59-year-old legs.

''This guy's a good runner,'' Bush told reporters yesterday during an Oval Office meeting with Dzurinda. ''And so now I feel comfortable challenging you to a race. Had you been healthy, I wouldn't even had gotten on the same track with you.'' Said Dzurinda: ''My leg is broken, but my heart is happy.'' Dzurinda, who is in a tough campaign for re-election, had surgery on March 4 after suffering a fracture of his lower right leg. He was on crutches at the White House yesterday.

It did not stop the two leaders from discussing business.

Bush, who traveled to Bratislava a year ago, pledged to work with the Slovak government on making it easier for Slovaks to travel to the United States with an expedited visa process.

''The Prime Minister made it very clear that he expects there to be some progress on the visa issue,'' Bush said.

Washington wants Slovakia to upgrade passports and discourage citizens from overstaying their visas.

REUTERS CS KP1014