BUSH

MONTEBELLO, Quebec (AP) :

United States President George W. Bush, at a North American summit yesterday, offered U.S. assistance and expressed his concern for the citizens of Mexico and elsewhere whose lives were affected by Hurricane Dean.

"We stand ready to help," said Bush, standing alongside Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. "The American people care a lot about the human condition in our neighbourhood and when we see human suffering we want to do what we can."

Security and trade issues dominated talks among the North American leaders who met at a posh chateau along the Ottawa River.

The three leaders began talks yesterday with a council of cor-porate executives, who are pushing for broader coordination across North America, from regulatory standards to emergency planning.

Overshadowing the two-day event was the menacing Hurricane Dean. The summit schedule was rearranged to accommodate Calderon, who was to head home early to deal with the aftermath of 'Dean'.

Great concern

"I have a great deal of concern for the housing and the lack of services in that general area for the indigenous people there and that will be the main area of concern for us," Calderon said.

Among the issues getting heavy attention here, Bush and his counterparts want to make their borders safer without impeding trade and tourism.