US President George W. Bush hopes leaders at an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru this weekend will back the G20 response to the international economic meltdown, the White House said Wednesday.

US President George W. Bush will seek support for the recent G20 declaration to bolster the world economy from countries in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum this weekend in Peru, a top aide said Wednesday.

`I don`t want to prejudge what it is they will do,` said Dan Price, Bush`s advisor for International Economic Affairs.

US President George W. Bush has kept up to date on the fate of a Saudi super-tanker hijacked by pirates off the east African coast and views the crew`s safety as critical, the White House said Wednesday.

ABU DHABI, Oct 21, 2007 (AFP) - US First Lady Laura Bush arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday at the start of a Middle East tour to highlight the fight against breast cancer, the state news agency WAM reported.

In addition to the United Arab Emirates, Bush is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Kuwait on Thursday, and Jordan on Friday.

She will visit several cancer treatment and screening centres and launch new cancer awareness activities in the region, her spokeswoman Sally McDonough said on Saturday.

WASHINGTON, Oct 20, 2007 (AFP) - US First Lady Laura Bush, taking on a higher profile on behalf of her husband's diplomacy, leaves for the Middle East Saturday to promote research on breast cancer and to try to restore the US image in a crucial region.

She has stops scheduled for the United Arab Emirates (United Arab Emirate) on Sunday and Monday, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and Wednesday, Kuwait on Thursday and Jordan on Friday.

WASHINGTON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - US First Lady Laura Bush, taking on a higher profile on behalf of her husband's diplomacy, leaves for the Middle East Saturday to promote research on breast cancer and try to restore the US image in a crucial region.

She has stops scheduled for the United Arab Emirates (United Arab Emirate) on Sunday and Monday, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and Wednesday, Kuwait on Thursday and Jordan on Friday.

WASHINGTON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - New sanctions announced by US President George W. Bush against the Myanmar regime target 11 additional senior officials in the military junta as well as seven state-controlled companies, the Treasury Department said on Friday.

'The President has made clear that Burmese officials will be held to account for the violent oppression of their people,' said Adam Szubin, director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, referring to the country's previous name.

WASHINGTON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - President George W. Bush announced tighter US sanctions on Myanmar's military rulers Friday and urged China and India to step up pressure on the junta to end a crackdown on pro-democracy activists.

'Burma's rulers continue to defy the world's just demand to stop their vicious persecution,' he said in a brief statement at the White House, using Myanmar's former name. 'Business as usual is unacceptable.'

WASHINGTON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - President George W. Bush on Friday urged China and India to do more to put pressure on Myanmar's military rulers in an effort to end repression of pro-democracy advocates there.

'I ask other counties to review their own laws and policies, especially Burma's closest neighbors, China, India, and others in the region,' Bush said in a statement at the White House.

WASHINGTON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush is to host his French counterpart President Nicolas Sarkozy November 6 and 7 in Washington, the White House said Friday.

Sarkozy, who Thursday announced his divorce from his wife of 11 years, Cecilia, will be making his first official trip to the US capital since taking office.