Amid a huge security clampdown, the US leader’s plane Air Force One touched down around 10.20 PM. On arrival he was met by Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile, NSW Premier Morris Iemma and the US Ambassador Robert McCallum.

Earlier tonight, Anti-APEC demonstrators staged their first protest during the Sydney summit, with 200 demonstrators attending a peaceful rally near Central Station.

Amid chants of “Go home Bush”, Stop Bush Coalition spokesman Alex Bainbridge said a strong police presence and other deterrents would not dissuade protesters.

Some protesters carried banners as about 60 police, some of them members of the riot squad, watched their movements.

“This is a scare tactic by the police and the government,” Mr Bainbridge said.

“I think there is a lot more people who are prepared to say that they can’t let this intimidation go ahead and will come along and support us anyway.”

Speakers at today’s rally included a member of the Iraq Veterans Against The War group, former Marine Matt Howard, who was deployed to Iraq in 2003.

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