Security net drapes London on eve of Bush's state visit

Extra police were deployed at Britain's ferry ports and airports, and passengers were being checked as they came off Eurostar trains from mainland Europe, ahead of Bush's arrival Tuesday evening.

Police were meanwhile in talks with the Stop the War Coalition, which is insisting on leading a big protest march Thursday against Bush and the Iraq war past Downing Street to parliament.

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Large-scale demonstrations, and a heightened terrorist alert, risk overshadowing talks that Bush will be having with Prime Minister Tony Blair on winning the peace in Iraq.

In the latest of a series of pre-visit interviews with British media, Bush told the mass circulation Sun newspaper that he wouldn't be rattled by voices of dissent.

"Presidents and prime ministers should never worry about how they are viewed in short-term history," he said in the interview published Monday.

"I think in terms of long-term history. I set big goals. And I know what we're doing is going to have a positive effect on this world".

Bush and Blair were expected to review plans for an accelerated transfer of sovereignty in Iraq on June 30 next year, and how that could impact on a withdrawal of US, British and other occupation forces.

Bush -- whose chances for re-election in November next year could be ruined if US casualities in Iraq keep growing -- welcomed the handover timetable Sunday, but warned: "It depends on what's taking place on the ground."

Bush and Blair were also expected to discuss ways to patch up Euro-American relations and head off a looming trade war over US tariffs on steel imports which have been deemed illegal by the World Trade Organisation.

Bush will be staying at Buckingham Palace as the personal guest of Queen Elizabeth II, in what the palace is calling the first-ever state visit to Britain by a US president.

His program includes a ceremonial palace welcome and a keynote speech on Wednesday, a press conference with Blair on Thursday, and a quick side trip Friday to Blair's constituency of Sedgefield, in northeast England.