Bush, Merkel to focus on Iran at Texas ranch summit

Crawford, Texas: President George W. Bush welcomed German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday to his Texas ranch where they will seek a common approach to deal with Iran's nuclear programme.

Bush extends invitations to Crawford to signal a special relationship and Merkel will spend two days at the 1,600-acre (647.5-hectare) ranch.

"In Texas when you invite somebody into your home it's an expression of warmth and respect and that's how I feel about Chancellor Merkel," Bush said after greeting the German leader who arrived by helicopter.

Their weekend discussions will be dominated by Tehran's decision to defy international demands to halt its uranium enrichment programme.

With just over a year left in office, Bush is determined to keep up the pressure on Iran.

With commercial interests at stake, Germany has resisted a US call to impose unilateral trade sanctions on Tehran.

"Strategically, we see eye-to-eye. Tactically, there are some slight differences," Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said.

Merkel will urge Bush to be patient and let the current diplomatic efforts play out.

The view from Berlin is that the US and Europe cannot afford to split with Russia because Moscow is needed to help solve other international problems as wel.

Earlier this week, Merkel said Germany would support tougher UN sanctions against Iran if Tehran did not address international concerns about its nuclear programme.

Johndroe said the talks on Iran were to be "part of ongoing discussions." US and German officials say they do not expect any major announcements from the ranch summit.

The Bush administration insists that it is committed to pursuing diplomacy on Iran, but also says all options are on the table.

The two leaders were also to discuss Afghanistan, the Middle East, Iraq, climate change, and the Doha trade round.

On Afghanistan, Merkel wants to stress to Bush and the American people that Germany will honor its commitments on international crises, and is willing to shoulder even greater responsibilities.

Bush, meanwhile, has backed off his criticism of allies in Germany and elsewhere that are not sending their troops to fight in the country's more dangerous south.