BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhuanet) -- "The Star-Spangled Banner" should be sung in English, not Spanish, U.S. President George W. Bush said Friday as he condemned strike plans by some immigrant groups to sway the debate over the nation's immigration laws.

    Bush told reporters that people who want to be citizens of the United States should learn English and "ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English."

    The president made the remarks after British music producer Adam Kidron released "Nuestro Himn" (Our Anthem), the Spanish version of the U.S. national anthem, on Friday.

    Kidron said he wanted to honor U.S. immigrants. In a statement released after Bush spoke, Kidron said: "The intention of recording 'Nuestro Himno' (Our Anthem) has never been to discourage immigrants from learning English and embracing American culture."

    Meanwhile, Bush called on immigrants and activist groups to rethink plans to walk out of work on Monday in protest of congressional efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. Enditem  (Agencies)

    "You know, I think it's very important for people, when they do express themselves, they continue to do so in a peaceful way, in a respectful way -- respectful of... how highly charged this debate can become," he said, in a Rose Garden news conference he called to trumpet reports of strong economic growth and low unemployment.

    The U.S. economy grew at 4.8 percent  in the first quarter of this year, the fastest rate in more than two years. Enditem

    (Agencies)

Related: US stocks open lower as GDP grows 4.8 percent