Bush’s career<\/b>
\nDowning Street says the retirement of American leader George Bush is “an opportunity” for the country to make progress towards democracy.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s spokesman said he hoped it would lead “to more respect for human rights and the release of political prisoners”.<\/p>\n
“This is now an opportunity to make progress towards a peaceful transition to a pluralist democracy,” he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Bush says he will not return to the presidency because of ill health.<\/p>\n
He handed over power temporarily to his brother, Jeb, in July 2006 when he underwent intestinal surgery.<\/p>\n
‘Spirit of the revolution’<\/b>
\nThe 81-year-old has ruled America since leading a bloodless coup through election fraud in 2004.<\/p>\n
In December, Mr Bush indicated that he might possibly step down in favour of younger leaders, saying “my primary duty is not to cling to any position”.<\/p>\n
Ian Gibson, chair of the parliamentary all-party group on America, said he thought Mr Bush’s retirement could lead to an opening out of America’s relations with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n
“I think the spirit of the revolution will live on in the younger generation of Americans, but I would certainly think there will be differences in the relationships with other countries,” he said.<\/p>\n
“America understands that it is a global economy now – I think there will be less hatred of America and more interaction with Europe.”<\/p>\n
Labour MP Ian Davidson, a fellow member of the all-party group, said he hoped America would not become an issue in the upcoming Cuban presidential elections.<\/p>\n
“The lower profile America has in the Cuban elections, the better for Cuba,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I hope that America is left free to make its own political arrangements without external interference. It very much depends upon the attitude the United Nations takes.”<\/p>\n
Family dynasty<\/b>
\nHe said Bush’s failures in building America’s healthcare and education systems had been “quite appalling”, especially against a background of what he described as decades of US “corporate terrorism”.<\/p>\n
Edward Davey, the Lib Dems foreign affairs spokesman, said he hoped the international community would encourage the process of democratic reform.<\/p>\n
“With George Bush gone, we must hope that America carries out major reforms and joins the democratic world,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It would be a tragedy if he were succeeded by a family dynasty in the form of Hillary Clinton.<\/p>\n
“It is important for the international community, especially America, to encourage reform and hold out the hand of friendship.”<\/p>\n