President Bush won't be put on the sidelines

RIGA, Latvia (AP) -- President Bush is used to taking center stage, even when sharing the dais with other presidents in their own countries.
That made for some awkward moments at a news conference Saturday with Bush and the leaders of three Baltic republics. Host President Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia invited her counterparts from Lithuania and Estonia to make opening statements, but forgot Bush before opening it up to reporters' questions.
Bush interjected, and she demurred to her high-profile visitor.
"I think maybe somebody from across the ocean should be given a chance to make a statement, as well," she said, drawing laughs from Bush and the reporters.
After Bush finished, Vike-Freiberga then explained that they would take four questions -- one for each president. Again, Bush tried to interrupt, saying, "Or you can have all four questions to me," knowing that foreign reporters usually want to use the opportunity to probe the U.S. president.
Vike-Freiberga ignored the remark as she called on a Latvian journalist, and Bush threw his arms up and looked to help from aides offstage. The Latvian journalist said he would prefer to question the U.S. leader, and Bush responded, "Yeah, I thought that might be the case."
And as he predicted, all four questions were for him.
Police dispersed crowd
Latvian police in riot gear dispersed a small group of anti-American demonstrators who threw smoke bombs during Bush's visit, detaining 17 people after scuffles near the U.S. embassy downtown.
The demonstration was quickly broken up. Another small demonstration involving about a dozen people on the outskirts of the city was mostly ignored by police.
Latvians were advised to stay away from Riga city center during Bush's visit, and downtown streets have been swarming with police. Bush arrived late Friday and departed Saturday night for the Netherlands.