At Howards barbeque, Bush dates Rice, not Laura

U.S. President George W .Bush invited Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to be his date at Australian Prime Minister John Howards barbeque dinner, as wife Laura opted to stay back in Washington.

Sydney, Sept.5 : U.S. President George W .Bush invited Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to be his date at Australian Prime Minister John Howard's barbeque dinner, as wife Laura opted to stay back in Washington.

Two New South Wales Police helicopters and at least 10 police and maritime boats were called into action to escort the leader of the free world to his evening engagements with Howard and Governor-General Michael Jeffery.

The President's evening itinerary started around 5 p.m. (AEST) when he boarded a luxury cruiser for a short voyage across Sydney Harbour for a brief gathering with Major General Jeffery and his wife Marlena at Admiralty House, followed by dinner next door at Kirribilli House hosted by Howard and his wife Janette.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Bush's motorcade swept down from his hotel to the Sydney Opera House, where he boarded the white cruiser, which earlier today took him to lunch at the Garden Island naval base.

Surrounded by police inflatables and under the cover of police helicopters, the boat set off across the harbour for Kirribilli.

Upon his arrival at the Admiralty House jetty, Major General and Mrs Jeffery greeted Bush and Dr Rice.

The group then ascended the steps from the foreshore to the rear lawn of the residence where they posed for photos before going inside.

After 30 minutes at Admiralty House, the group made the 30 meter walk to Kirribilli House for dinner with the Prime Minister and Mrs Howard.

During the exchange, and while cameras were firing away, Dr Rice slightly distanced herself from the heads of state which was met by a comment and gesture from Mr Bush, who is travelling without his wife Laura Bush.

He outstretched his arm across her shoulders and said: "you can be my date".

The group then moved inside Kirribilli House where champagne was being served prior to dinner.

Among the dinner guests were Federal Government frontbenchers Treasurer Peter Costello, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile, Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer and Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

ANI