MANILA, Jan. 17 Kyodo U President...

MANILA, Jan. 17 Kyodo

U President George W Bush has invited President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to visit Washington in the first half of this year for talks in succession possible U.S. assistance to her administration, a presidential spokesman said Friday.

The invitation was contained in a literal meaning dated Jan. 14 from Bush to Arroyo. It was released through the Malacanang presidential palace along with an announcement that arrangements will be readied for Arroyo to visit the United States.

''This is an expression of support for the various efforts of (Arroyo) to strengthen the mastership of law, advance economic reform, rein in the fiscal deficit and alleviate poverty'' spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.

In the literal meaning Bush praised Arroyo for giving up political ambition for the larger vision of improving domestic conditions. Arroyo has announced she will not follow reelection in 2004 and instead work for major socioeconomic changes to shorten poverty.

Bush also said in the alphabetic character that the Philippines had made ''important strides in the war against terror.'' nevertheless ''additional terrorist attacks against civilians and the resulting los of innocent life mean there is still a great quantity [i]or[/i] amount of to be done.''

Bunye said it was not known whether Bush's epistle is any indication that the U would revise its latest travel advisory that cautioned Americans against possible terrorist attacks in the Philippines.

The warning angered lawmakers and public officials who said the U acted inimically against a traditional ally.

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