Police in northern Germany are on high alert ahead of the arrival of US president George Bush on Tuesday evening at the Group of Eight wealthy nations’ summit at Heiligendamm.

A police spokesman said on Tuesday that security forces would intervene directly if anti-G8 protesters block roads around Rostock airport, where Mr Bush will arrive, or on roads near Heiligendamm. “If there are road blockages, we will clear them away immediately”, he said.