North American leaders begin summit amid protests

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of Canada, the United States and Mexico arrived Monday in Montebello, Canada, to begin a two-day summit to boost trilateral trade and security cooperation.

    The summit is the third of its kind under the framework of the so-called Security and Prosperity Partnership (SSP), which was launched at the first "Three Amigos" summit in Waco, Texas, in March 2005.

U.S. President George W. Bush (R) talks with Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper before the start of a bilateral meeting in Montebello, Quebec August 20, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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    "This meeting is a reaffirmation of the commitment that all three of these countries have to create a secure and prosperous continent," agencies reports quoted White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe as saying.

U.S. President George W. Bush (R) shakes hands with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon after arriving at the Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello in Canada, during the two-day North American Leaders' Summit with Canada and Mexico, August 20, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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    The summit, held at a cabin resort in Montebello, about 80 kilometers northeast of Ottawa, has been dogged by protesters who are concerned with the lack of transparency in the summit and its outcome.

    To prevent the protesters from derailing the summit, organizers have erected a fence three meters high and running 2.5 kilometers around the venue of the gathering.