Theft mystery over George Bush's vanishing timepiece

It seemed to disappear while Mr Bush was glad-handing cheering crowds in Albania.

And it's now being claimed that the expensive timepiece had been artfully removed from his left wrist by a crafty thief.

Footage being shown on YouTube and press photographs certainly seemed to support the idea that a pickpocket had been a work.

As these photos show, the black leather strap of the watch was clearly visible when he waved to the crowds in the village of Fushe Kruje on Sunday with his wife Laura at his side during his visit to Albania.

But as the shirt-sleeved President plunges into the crowd a hand appears to cover the watch.

And then it's gone - all that's left is the thin tanline marking where the watch had been.

The White House have denied that the watch has been stolen, as did an official at the U.S. embassy in Albania.

There was a suggestion that it had simply slipped off the President's wrist in the melee. An Albanian bodyguard claimed he had seen one of his U.S. colleagues pick it up.

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As the President dives into the crowds to greet the Albanians, a hand closes over his left wrist

Seconds later, Mr Bush's wrist is suddenly bare, with just a tanline to show where the watch was