President Bush has arrived in Panama, the third stop in his three nation Latin American tour.
He will meet with Panamanian President Martin Torrijos Monday and tour the Panama Canal. Navy patrol boats and helicopters are guarding the bay near the canal and the hotel where the president will be staying. Protests are also planned during his trip.
Mr. Bush wrapped up his visit to Brazil Sunday with a speech urging Latin American nations not to turn away from democracy, which, he said, offers a vision of hope. Speaking in the capital Brasilia, Mr. Bush said some in the region seek to "roll back" democratic progress by, in his words, pitting neighbor against neighbor and blaming others for their failures.
Mr. Bush and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva minimized Brazil's opposition to the U.S.-proposed free trade zone of the Americas, saying US-Brazilian relations are strong.