Protests over US beef imports grew into calls for Lee's resignation [AFP]

George Bush is expected to discuss the resumption of US beef imports on Tuesday with his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-Bak, whose decision to lift a five-year ban on US beef sparked a massive political backlash.

Bush will then visit Thailand on his three-day Asia tour before heading to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

Right activists and some US politicians have called for Bush to boycott the games over human rights concerns.

But Bush said last week that the Olympics was not a place for political statements and that not attending would offend the Chinese people.

"I made a decision not to politicise the games; this is for athletics," he had said.

"There's plenty of time for politics, and I'm confident I'll have time for politics."

South Korea protests

Bush is also expected to discuss efforts to end North Korea's nuclear weapons drive and free-trade legislation with Lee, in addition to the recent controversy over beef imports.

The South Korean government had been facing mass protests over its decision to lift the embargo on US beef imports introduced in 2003 after a case of mad cow disease was diagnosed in the US.

The protests have abated after Seoul won some promises of safeguards from Washington such as pledges that meat from older cattle would not be exported to South Korea.

US beef imports resumed on July 29, although many larger South Korean shops and restaurants still refuse to serve the meat.

The US president will also deliver a major foreign policy speech in Thailand, where he is expected to condemn the military government of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, for human rights abuses.

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