Brazilian city clamps down for Bush

SAO PAULO, March 8 (UPI) -- Brazil's largest city is taking extra security measures to ensure the safety of U.S. President Bush, who arrived there Thursday, Folha de Sao Paulo reported.

Thousands of police and soldiers were deployed to Sao Paulo. Authorities also blocked off several blocks around the hotel in Sao Paulo where Bush will be staying. The military also brought in anti-aircraft weapons to repel any possible aerial attacks on the president's hotel.

Bush -- who made Brazil the first stop on his multi-nation Latin America tour -- was greeted by thousands of protesters Thursday denouncing a proposed ethanol energy deal between the United States and Brazil. The demonstrators said the deal would lead to further deforestation of the Amazon.