By Sandra O'Malley | November 15, 2008 Article from: Australian Associated Press
US President George W Bush appeared somewhat standoffish as he greeted Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at a G20 working dinner at the White House today.
Leaders gather at G20 George Bush welcomes world leaders ahead of the G20 summit in Washington. 11/2008 Sky News
It was the first time the pair have met in person since the controversial leaking of a phone conversation between the men last month.
The normally gregarious president gave Mr Rudd a very business-like greeting at the entry to the White House.
While other world leaders got big smiles and pats on the back from Mr Bush, the Australian prime minister had to make do with a brief handshake and a relatively stony face from the president as the pair posed for photographers and TV crews.
The leak controversy centres on a claim in The Australian on October 25 that the outgoing US president asked Mr Rudd: "What's the G20?", an allegation since denied by both Canberra and Washington.
Adding to the intrigue, editor-in-chief of The Australian, Chris Mitchell, was said to have been at a dinner party at the prime minister's Sydney residence, Kirribilli House, on the night in question.
Over recent days, Mr Rudd has repeatedly refused to answer questions about whether he or anyone in his office had leaked the information to the newspaper.
