President Obama In UK Cameron In Bilateral Talks

  Barack Obama has held talks with David Cameron in Downing Street in which the conflicts in Afghanistan and Libya were expected to feature prominently.

The US President will later make a key foreign policy speech to MPs and peers on the second day of his state visit.He is expected to focus on recent developments in the Middle East and the nature of the US-UK relationship.The two leaders are now attending a barbecue hosted by their wives for families of military personnel.The Nato operation in Libya and ongoing tensions in the Middle East and north Africa were expected to be high on the agenda at the bilateral talks - which lasted about 90 minutes.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Foreign Secretary William Hague and US counterpart Hillary Clinton also attended the meeting, where the state of the global economy, counter-terrorism and the conflict in Afghanistan are also likely to feature.After attending a barbecue in the garden of No 10 Downing Street for UK and US servicemen and women - hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron - the two men will hold a joint press conference.Later in the day, Mr Obama will give a setpiece speech on US foreign policy at Westminster Hall - the oldest building within the Palace of Westminster - an honour usually reserved for British monarchs.The hall has seen speeches from a number of heads of state - most recently Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 - but Mr Obama will be the first US president to give an address there to both Houses of Parliament.During what has been described as an "upbeat and optimistic" address, Mr Obama is expected to say that the US has no closer ally in the world than the UK.