PM and Bush share vision of freedom

Speaking after the two leaders held their first face-to-face talks since Mr Brown became PM at the US Presidential retreat in Camp David, Mr Bush said that Britain and America shared important values.

And he said that the world stood at the start of a "great ideological battle" between the forces of freedom and "cold-blooded killers".

Standing alongside Mr Brown on the lawn at Camp David, Mr Bush said: "The notion of America and Britain sharing values is very important and we have an obligation, it seems to me, to work for freedom and justice around the world. I found him a person who shares that vision and who understands the call.

"After all, we are writing the initial chapters of what I believe is a great ideological struggle between those of us who do believe in freedom and justice and human rights and human dignity and cold-blooded killers who will kill innocent people to achieve their objectives."

Mr Brown said it was a "great honour" to hold talks with the President and "to affirm and to celebrate the historic partnership of shared purpose" between the nations.

He said he had told Mr Bush it was "in Britain's national interest that, with all our energies, we work together to address all the great challenges that we face, also together: nuclear proliferation; climate change; global poverty and prosperity; the Middle East peace process which we have discussed and, most immediately, international terrorism. "Terrorism is not a cause, it is a crime and it is a crime against humanity," he added.

The PM said the so-called "special relationship" was "a partnership founded on more than common interests and more than just a common history; it's a partnership founded and driven forward by our shared values".

Mr Brown continued: "There should be no safe havens and no hiding places for those who practise terrorist violence or preach terrorist extremism."

On Iraq, Mr Brown said there were "duties to discharge and responsibilities to keep" in support of the government. He said the aim was "step-by-step" to move control to the Iraqi forces and authorities. Mr Brown said the intention was to move to "overwatch" status in the fourth and final province controlled by UK forces when circumstances allow.