SANTIAGO, Chile — A 29-year-old math teacher who goes by the name Patricio says that as soon as President Bush arrives in this South American capital Friday, the fighting will begin.
"We'll knock down some barriers, set some fires, paint some graffiti," said the anti-globalization activist who declined to provide his real name. "We are going to go where the police don't want us to go."
Bush is traveling here for the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, his first trip abroad since his reelection and his first official visit to this continent. Twenty other world leaders will attend the weekend summit, including Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
For Chilean officials, the summit is a kind of coming-out party affirming their nation's status as South America's most dynamic economy. In January, Chile became the first country on the continent to enter into a free-trade agreement with the United States. continues...