Obama heads to G20 summit in France

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama began his trip to Cannes, France, Wednesday night to take part in the two-day Group of 20 summit.

The president, wearing a dark suit, was seen leaving the White House accompanied by Chief of Staff Bill Daley, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, aide Reggie Love and photographer Pete Souza. They flew on the Marine 1 helicopter to Andrews Air Force Base shortly before 7 p.m. EDT for the flight overseas aboard Air Force One.

The president is to arrive at Cote D'Azur Airport in Nice, France, by morning, and then travel to Espace Riviera in Cannes, where he is to be greeted by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The two leaders are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting.

Obama will hold a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel later in the morning, and then confer with international labor leaders.

The afternoon will include a working lunch with G20 leaders, followed by two closed G20 working sessions, and then a working dinner with the other world leaders that also will be closed to reporters.