LONDON (AFP) - Queen Elizabeth II formally welcomed Ghanaian President John Kufuor to Britain on Tuesday on a state visit marking the 50th anniversary of Ghana's independence from its colonial ruler.

President Kufuor inspected troops in central London and was greeted by loud cheers as the party processed in bright sunshine along The Mall, the ceremonial route to Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth's official residence.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, Home Secretary John Reid and police chief Ian Blair also greeted the President and his wife Theresa, who wore traditional costume in the red, yellow and green colours of Ghana's flag.

Kufuor's Itinerary

	Streets of London laced with flags of Ghana and Britain

President Kufuor will spend three days in Britain on the state visit. He will also hold talks with key politicians, prominent business chiefs and the Ghanaian community.

After a private lunch at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, the President visited Westminster Abbey to lay a wreath at the grave of the unknown soldier.

He was then to meet opposition leaders David Cameron of the Conservatives and Menzies Campbell of the smaller Liberal Democrats.

Queen Elizabeth, 80, will later this evening host a state banquet for Kufuor and his wife at Buckingham Palace, where both the monarch and the president were to deliver speeches.

Kufour will spend Thursday in Liverpool, northwest England, to take part in a number of engagements, including receiving an honorary degree from Liverpool John Moores University.