Bush Flies to Europe to Help US Economy

PRESIDENT Bush departed late Saturday on a six-day European trip which he hopes will demonstrate to disgruntled voters his efforts to expand markets for United States goods and create jobs back home.

The president and Mrs. Bush were to flew through the night en route to Poland, the first stop on their journey. After visiting several hours in Warsaw, they went on to Munich for the annual economic summit of the world's seven largest industrialized countries.

Dogged by low public approval polls and a sluggish recovery from recession, Mr. Bush made clear that his main goal at the summit is to find ways to mend the economy.

"I will continue to fight for more economic growth, and that means free trade," he told a news conference Thursday.

Later, Bush flies to Finland for a two-day gathering in Helsinki of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.