Mon January 12, 2004 04:19 PM ET
By Kieran Murray
MONTERREY, Mexico, Jan 12 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush and his estranged "amigo," Mexico's Vicente Fox, put aside their dispute over Iraq on Monday, praising each other for their work on U.S. immigration reform and the war on terror.
The two presidents met at an Americas-wide summit in Mexico, their up-and-down friendship boosted by Bush's new plan to overhaul immigration laws and Mexico's recent tightening of airport security for U.S.-bound flights.
Other Latin American nations are increasingly critical of U.S. policies so Bush was eager to play up his improving relationship with Mexico.
"We are working together to overcome many mutual challenges and that work is yielding results," Bush told a joint news conference.
He said Fox remained a "good friend" despite his opposition last year to the war in Iraq. The Mexican leader, a former Coca-Cola executive, congratulated Bush on the recent capture of deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Bush and Fox took office at about the same time three years ago and quickly developed a close friendship, sharing a taste for cowboy boots and life on the ranch.
http://www.reuters.c...&type=bondsNews
"Amigos". Way to cheapen the new story, Reuters.