Georgia's president says Bush brings hope

Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgia's president, credited U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday with spurring the birth of democracy throughout the former Soviet empire by visiting the former Soviet republic.

“By coming here, he sends such a strong message of supporting democracy and independence," Saakashvili told American reporters in Bush's entourage.

"Him coming here - it's like encouragement for democracy in the whole region." (AP)