Security issues: Stringent security arrangements are being put in place for Mr Bush's visit to the North. It is understood members of the US intelligence services have been in the North for several days making arrangements.
The large security apparatus in place in the North means a high-security visit by the US president is not as problematic as it would be in Britain.
There is intense speculation it will be Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, and that the president will spend Monday night there. President Clinton stayed in the Europa Hotel during a visit to the North but sources said this would be a huge security risk now.
US military aircraft have already landed at RAF Aldergrove.
Peace activists in the North have said Mr Bush is meeting Mr Blair in the North because he is "running scared" of the anti-war movement in Britain.
Ms Goretti Horgan of the anti-war coalition in Northern Ireland said: "Bush is coming here because Northern Ireland is the only bit of UK soil where it is safe for Blair to meet him. The anti-war movement is much larger in Britain. If he went there, there would be a massive explosion of anger on the streets."
She said details of the protests would be announced over the weekend. British government sources said Mr Bush and Mr Blair would meet an undisclosed location outside Belfast.
Pro-agreement sources said by visiting the North at such a significant time for the peace process, Mr Bush could receive valuable PR as a "man of peace". They said substantial pressure would be put on the Ulster Unionists and Sinn Fein to agree a deal.
Mr Oisín Kehoe of the anti-war coalition said: "It is outrageous Blair should presume to invite Bush here to pose as a man of peace. It would be even more disgusting if local leaders, who have claimed to be opposed to this imperial war, meet Bush and help him to be pictured as a man of peace.
"It would be collusion in Bush's war. We call in particular, on members of the SDLP and Sinn Fein, to tell their leaders now in loud, clear terms they must shun this man of violence during his visit."
The Green Party in the North also called for demonstrations against Mr Bush.