Britain's Brown to meet with Bush at Camp David

PHILADELPHIA, July 26 (Reuters) US President George W Bush will host Britain's Gordon Brown at Camp David early next week, the White House said today, the first visit by the new prime minister who seems likely to pursue a cooler relationship with Washington than his predecessor.

Brown became prime minister last month, promising change in a bid to woo back voters after 10 years of Labour Party rule under Tony Blair. Blair's decision to back Bush and go to war in Iraq sent his popularity plummeting in Britain and contributed to his departure.

The two leaders will focus on ''continuing to move forward on issues of shared interests and concerns,'' White House spokesman Tony Snow said aboard Air Force One as Bush traveled to Philadelphia.

The topics of discussion on Sunday and Monday will likely include the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as other issues including the situation in Darfur and Kosovo, he said.

While Brown's government has emphasized that it remains committed to the so-called special relationship with the United States, officials have also indicated that London and Washington would not be as closely tied under Brown.

The change of premiership has prompted speculation that Britain might accelerate troop withdrawals from Iraq. Britain has been gradually reducing numbers and now has about 5,500 troops in the south.

REUTERS PD VV1848