Bush in Guatemala to Discuss Trade, Immigration Issues

U.S. President Bush is in Guatemala for talks on immigration and trade issues as he continues his week-long tour of Latin America.

Mr. Bush will meet his Guatemalan counterpart, Oscar Berger, Monday in Guatemala City. The two leaders are expected to discuss the status of thousands of Guatemalans working illegally in the United States.

President Bush has proposed a "guest worker" program that would allow some illegal immigrants to remain in the country.

On Sunday, Mr. Bush visited Colombia and expressed confidence in President Alvaro Uribe, who is dealing with a political scandal involving members of his inner circle. Democrats in the U.S. Congress are questioning Mr. Bush's request for additional aid to Colombia to battle illegal cocaine production.

A Guatemalan official told the Reuters news agency that President Berger will ask for U.S. help in upgrading military equipment used to fight drug traffickers in his country.

Ahead of Monday's talks in Guatemala, Mr. Bush will visit a vegetable packing facility, in the village of Chirijuyu, that benefits from free trade with the United States.

He also will travel to the Guatemalan town of Santa Cruz Balanya to meet with U.S. military doctors providing basic health care to the indigenous people of the area.

Also on Mr. Bush's itinerary is a visit to a site of Mayan ruins.

Scores of Mayan Indians rallied Sunday to protest Mr. Bush's planned trip to the sacred site. Mayan priests promised to cleanse the ruins of "bad spirits" after Mr. Bush leaves.

Guatemala is Mr. Bush's fourth stop on a five-nation tour of Latin America. He will visit Mexico next before returning to Washington. - VOA News