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US President George W Bush addressed a crowd in Slovakia's capital, Bratislava, on the final leg of his European tour.

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"America stands with you," he said, hailing Slovakia's democratic reforms since the 1989 Velvet Revolution that broke the hold of communism.

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Mr Bush then plunged into the crowd amid loud cheers.

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Security was tight, as police stood guard to prevent anti-Bush protesters from interrupting the president's speech.

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Demonstrators, however, used an adjacent venue to make their views known.

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Greenpeace activists also urged the US to join the Kyoto Protocol, which aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

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Mr Bush then met Russian President Vladimir Putin for what had been earlier described by some analysts as showdown talks.

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Mr Bush said afterwards that he and Mr Putin had had "an open and candid exchange of views".