Bush arrives in Germany for G8 summit

U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in northern German city Rostock on Tuesday to attend the June 6-8 summit of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations.

After his plane landed in the Rostock-Laage Airport in northern Germany, he took a helicopter to the German Baltic resort of Heiligendamm, the venue of the G8 summit and 40 km north of Rostock.

Bush arrived from the Czech capital of Prague, where he discussed with Czech leaders the plan of deploying a missile defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland.

The issue has dominated the world headlines these days, with Russian President Vladimir Putin threatening a Russian retaliation if the U.S. plan went ahead.

"In case of the deployment of anti-missile defense systems in Europe we warn that there will be retaliatory steps. We have to ensure our security. And this process was not initiated by us,"

Putin said in an interview published on Monday focusing on the G8 summit.

The United States plans to deploy missile interceptors in Poland and radar units in the Czech Republic as part of a project to extend the missile defense system in Europe. Russia has voiced strong opposition over the deployment.

"We want to be heard, to make our position clear, and we don't rule out that our American partners can reconsider their decision, " Putin said, warning that there will be "an obviously imminent new arms race in Europe" if the U.S. plans were implemented.

In Prague, Bush called for cooperation from Putin on the issue.

"The Cold War has ended and Russia is not the United States' enemy," said Bush at a press conference after talks with Czech President Vaclav Klaus and Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek.

Bush said he would explain to Putin that there was no reason for Russian concerns over the U.S. project, which Moscow sees as a threat to its security.

Bush and Putin are expected to talk face-to-face over the issue in Heiligendamm, which starts Wednesday evening.

The U.S. president is scheduled to have an informal lunch with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is chairing the annual G8 gathering.

The G8 groups Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.

According to German TV footage, some 500 demonstrators, who gathered on a road leading to Rostock-Laage Airport, protested Bush's visit, with one of the banners reading "No to U.S. Imperialism."