Bush pledges to help Peru fight terrorism

LIMA, Peru -- Extending a hand to a shaken nation, President Bush declared Saturday that the United States would work to bolster "democratic foundations" in Peru as a means of fighting terrorism. He said the two nations share a common perspective on terrorist violence: "We must stop it."

"Our nations understand that freedom is only as strong as the institutions protecting it," Bush said in a joint news conference with Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo. "Our nations understand that political and economic progress depends on security."

Toledo, for his part, said he and Bush share "the energy and the stubbornness" to combat terrorism without wavering.

Bush, the first U.S. president to visit Peru, arrived three days after a car bombing near the U.S. Embassy killed nine people and embarrassed the Peruvian government.

The terror attack on Wednesday loomed over Bush's visit. Security was heavy. Streets were filled with military tanks, armored cars, water cannons and 7,000 riot police and troops in camouflage. They stood watch over the thousands of Peruvians who braved the hot sun in shorts and flip-flops to smile and wave at the U.S. presidential motorcade.

Riot police firing tear gas dispersed dozens of anti-American demonstrators, and smoke billowed over a square near the Palace of Justice. There were no reports of injuries, but at least three men were seen being led away by uniformed police.

At the news conference, Bush offered condolences over the attack and announced $195 million in assistance for Peru this year, a threefold increase; $75 million of it would go toward counternarcotics and security.

"Peruvians have been reminded again this week of the terrible human toil of terror," Bush said. He thanked Peru for taking the lead "in rallying our hemisphere to take strong action against this common threat."

Toledo added: "On this issue, we are partners. We are stubborn."

Afterward, Bush and Toledo met for an hour with the presidents of Bolivia and Colombia and the vice president of Ecuador. They discussed fighting drugs and terrorism and the prospects for Senate passage of an extension of the Andean Trade Preferences Act, said White House spokesman Sean McCormack.

Bush supports renewing and expanding the act, which sets special tariff treatment for imports from those countries. The legislation is pending in the U.S. Senate. Bush has urged senators to move it forward.