Brown praises Obama ahead of today's talks

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown headed to Washington yesterday as the first European leader to visit Barack Obama, praising the US President's "transformative" power amid the economic crisis.

Mr Brown, who says he wants a "global new deal" on reviving the ailing world economy at a summit of 20 leading nations in London next month, is holding talks with Mr Obama in the White House today.

"I think the impression he has given of America to the world is transformative, because he is a black man who has won the presidency, who is living in the White House that was built by slaves," said the British leader.

"I think people's view of America is changing as a result of that," Mr Brown added.

Mr Brown said Mr Obama was taking "very difficult" economic decisions. "He is doing similar things to what we are doing in Britain."

The United States and Britain have launched massive economic stimulus packages since rogue US subprime home loans sparked a credit crunch which developed into the worst economic slowdown since the Great Depression.

Mr Brown has said he wants to use the Washington talks to prepare for the G20 meeting in London on April 2, which is designed to draw up a new blueprint for economic recovery.

The British premier has said that during his Washington trip he wants to strike a stronger "partnership of purpose" to fight the financial downturn.

But Mr Brown's spokesman said the trip was also about "strengthening the relationship" between the two men.

They have met several times, most recently when Mr Obama made a brief visit to London last year during his presidential campaign.

The leaders are also expected to press for greater help from other countries in fighting the raging insurgency in Afghanistan, although Mr Brown's spokesman refused to be drawn on which nations they had in mind.

As the focus shifts away from Iraq, President Obama has already pledged to send 17,000 additional US troops to Afghanistan this year to join 38,000 already there. Britain has 8,500 soldiers in the violence-wracked south of the country.

Mr Brown will give a speech to the US Congress tomorrow, becoming the fifth British Prime Minister to do so.

His predecessor Tony Blair struck up a strong relationship with George W. Bush, and the visit comes at a crucial time for Mr Brown as he struggles to gain public support for his domestic stimulus package and huge bank bailouts.

His supporters hope the trip will boost his flagging popularity - the governing Labour Party currently trails the opposition Conservatives ahead of a general election that must take place by mid-2010.

He is also expected to hold a meeting with Vice President Joe Biden.

Mr Brown's wife Sarah will accompany him to Washington and will hold a separate meeting with the new First Lady, Michelle Obama.

As befits his first visit to a new US President, Mr Brown will take a gift reflecting the historical relationship between Britain and the United States, his spokesman said, without giving more details.