Compare to the reception of Bush in Argentina.


Riots mar Americas summit opening
Posted at 12:04pm on 5 Nov 2005
Violent protests have erupted in Argentina where United States President

Bush is meeting with regional leaders for a free trade summit.
Earlier this morning a peaceful rally involving 10,000 people marched to a
football stadium.
But about 1,000 protesters then started throwing rocks and small

at least one multi-story building is on fire.
Police are now trying to move the protesters, who are only blocks from the

where the Summit of the Americas is being held.
President Bush and 33 other regional leaders are meeting to discuss free

and poverty, amid tight security. However, the US leader is expected to

vocal opposition over plans to create a Free Trade Area of the Americas

Venezuela's leader Hugo Chavez, a key opponent of the FTAA, this morning
addressed protesters, calling for a united stand against the US-backed

trade proposal.
Alongside him stood Argentine former football legend Diego Maradona,

T-shirt accusing Mr Bush of war crimes.
Emotions strained at summit
Emotions at the summit are high among those who say US-backed free-market
policies have pushed millions into poverty. Some 96 million people in the
region are surviving on less than $US1 per day, according to the United
Nations.
Mexican President Vicente Fox has said 29 of the 34 summit nations are

to move forward with free trade negotiations. Apart from Venezuela, those
nations opposed to the creation of the free trade zone include Argentina,
Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
In his keynote speech, President Bush is expected to argue that the way to
guarantee prosperity is by encouraging free trade, a flourishing private

and by deepening democracy.
The rivalry between Mr Bush and Mr Chavez is expected to dominate the