Brown and Bush have 'ambitious agenda'

WASHINGTON, April 17 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he and President George W. Bush discussed an "ambitious agenda" at a meeting Thursday in the White House.

At a press appearance in the Rose Garden after their talk, the two leaders spoke of their friendship and said they had discussed counter-terrorism strategy, Iraq, Afghanistan, curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions, the economy and climate change.

"Mr. President, this is an ambitious agenda that we share together," Brown said. "It can only be achieved by closer cooperation that will happen over these next few months."

Both Brown and Bush suffer from low poll numbers and Bush has been consistently unpopular in Britain for years.

Brown, who delayed calling a parliamentary election after succeeding Tony Blair, has almost two years until he has to make his case to the voters. He has also had meetings at the British embassy in Washington with the three presidential candidates.

The visit included a state dinner Thursday night at the White House.