Convention gears up to crown Bush

George W Bush is due to accept his nomination on Thursday

The Republican candidate for the United States presidency, George W Bush, is in Philadelphia for the final stages of his party's convention.

He will accept his formal presidential nomination on Thursday, a day after the anointment of his vice-presidential running mate, Dick Cheney.

Cheney was Defence Secretary when Mr Bush's father was president

The formal nominations are the climax of the five-day convention, which has seen the party attempt shake off its widely perceived conservative image.

But the meeting is taking place against a background of continuing protests and police say they have now arrested about 300 people demonstrating against the death penalty and alleged police brutality.

At the convention on Wednesday, former US president Gerald Ford suffered two small strokes and was admitted to hospital.

Bullish Bush

Mr Bush was in a bullish mood upon arrival in Philadelphia.

"If all goes well, you're looking at the next president of the United States," he told a crowd of several hundred cheering supporters.

This campaign is going to take a campaign that is positive and hopeful and optimistic to the people.

George W Bush

Stepping off a plane newly painted with the words "BUSH - CHENEY", Mr Bush said the Convention had send a "positive and hopeful message" to America.

Accompanied by his wife Laura, he was greeted by a band wearing colonial costumes, and characters dressed as former US presidents, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.

Mr Bush will be formally nominated on Thursday night when a roll call of states reaches 1,034 delegates.

His running mate, Dick Cheney will accept the vice-presidential nomination on Wednesday.

He has sought to allay fears over his conservative voting record, particularly over issues of gun control and the welfare state.

New Image

A major feature of the convention has been the party's attempts to foster a new image for itself of moderation, tolerance and compassion, particularly towards ethnic groups.

Mr Cheney said he would now reconsider his position on several policies he has in the past opposed, in line with the efforts shake off the party's conservative image.

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell, who many observers tip as a likely future secretary of state, said Mr Bush could "help bridge" the country's racial divide.

But although the tone of the conference has been more moderate that in recent years, American military might has also been firmly on the agenda.

Protesters angry at police tactics

Mr Bush again pledged to pursue a robust foreign policy, re-iterating his support for the US National missile defence system.

Speaking by to supporters en-route to the convention, Mr Bush also said he would "rebuild our military and strengthen our alliances."

Protests continue

Away from the convention hall, masked demonstrators continued to clash with police on Tuesday night.

Protesters slashed the tyres of police cars and daubed others with orange paint.

Anti-capitalist demonstrators are protesting against the death penalty, police brutality and other causes.

Police say they have made nearly 300 arrests and charged 10 people with assaults on police officers.