CLOSE, but no cigar:

Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero finally gets a brief meeting with US president George W Bush.

The two met at a reception in New York after months of diplomatic game-playing.

Bush said a warm hello to the Spanish king and queen who were accompanying Zapatero to the UN Assembly General in New York.

But the US president spared Zapatero a moment to say hello.

Bush is hosting a reception for leaders on the eve of the United Nations Assembly General meeting.

Diplomatic sources said no meeting had been planned between Zapatero and Bush.

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