US President George W Bush has met Pope Benedict at the Vatican on the latest leg of his European visit.

Mr Bush described the meeting as an honour. The White House said a range of issues was discussed, including AIDS, Africa and combating poverty.

Mr Bush will also travel to Paris, London and Belfast.



The Irish Anti-War Movement has meanwhile said it will defy a Dublin City Council decision to refuse it permission to erect posters advertising a protest against the visit in Belfast.

The anti-war organisation has described the poster ban as a blatant act of political censorship, and accused officials of pursuing an agenda to suppress any political activity that questions US foreign policy.

The group says the council replied with an email stating that it was refusing permission for the posters to be erected, as the council felt that it may be perceived as offensive by members of the public.

In Stormont today a member of the Assembly said Mr Bush's visit was not reason enough to cancel business on Monday.

The decision to scrap the scheduled sitting at Parliament Buildings to accommodate the arrival of the US president was attacked by Alliance chief Whip Kieran McCarthy.

The Strangford MLA said too much time had already been wasted at Stormont since devolution and the presence of a VIP guest did not justify the suspension.



He noted that the Mr Bush would not even be in Parliament Buildings, as his tour only took place in nearby Stormont castle.

Assembly.