Hurricane concerns to cut summit short

[unhappycamper]

Hurricane concerns to cut summit short
ALAN FREEMAN AND BILL CURRY
Globe and Mail Update
August 20, 2007 at 7:45 PM EDT


Montebello, Quebec — Concerned about the impact of Hurricane Dean as it hurtled towards Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Mexican President Felipe Calderon said he would return home at mid-day Tuesday, immediately after the end of an abridged summit with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President George W. Bush.

Mr. Calderon made the announcement outside the Chateau Montebello Hotel, just prior to a bilateral meeting with Mr. Harper, which was originally supposed to take place in Ottawa on Wednesday. The Mexican leader said his NAFTA allies had been understanding in agreeing to changes in the summit program to allow him to leave.

At the same time, Mr. Harper's office announced a revised agenda for the summit on Tuesday morning, moving up a final news conference with the three leaders by more than an hour. The leaders are still supposed to meet with corporate executives in the meeting and have a three-way meeting prior to the press conference.

~snip~

Quebec police in full riot gear fired tear gas into the crowd of protesters, Monday afternoon, increasing tensions outside the international summit.

Protesters, meanwhile, occasionally tossed apples, water bottles and other projectiles at police.

The two sides have been facing off since about noon EDT. The standoff continues to block Highway 148, which is the main connection between the town of Montebello and Gatineau.

more

[acmavm]

1. The three thugs are meeting with 'corporate executives' before the

press conference. They have to get their script straight and sell out the people before making the announcement.

[soothsayer]

2. bush asks "Why do you need to go home just because a hurricane is coming?"