U.S. President George W. Bush(L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands at the end of joint news conference in St Petersburg, Russia, July 15, 2006.  (Xinhua Photo)

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in St. Petersburg on Saturday morning.

    President Bush, who arrived in St. Petersburg on Friday afternoon to attend the G8 summit, is expected to talk with President Putin on a wide range of topics like the Middle east crisis, the Iran nuclear issue, and Russia' bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).

    Over the past three days, Israel launched military operations in Lebanon as a revenge after the radical Hizbollah movement took two Israelis hostage on Wednesday. Hizbollah fought back with rockets. The actions caused dozens of deaths and more injuries on both sides.

    On Friday, Putin urged all sides involved in the Middle East conflict to end military operations and bloodshed. Enditem