Bush Fireworks Display Draws Fire

W A S H I N G T O N, Sept. 6 -- It was supposed to be a celebration.

The smashing conclusion to President Bush's first formal state dinner was a dazzling fireworks display honoring America's neighbor to the South, Mexico, and its visiting leader, President Vicente Fox.

But the pyrotechnics set off an unexpected explosion of resentment among Bush's neighbors in Washington.

The White House rocket racket at 11 p.m. Wednesday night sent security guards from nearby office buildings running into the streets to find out what was happening and panicked passersby, including a crowd of young people leaving a nearby concert by the R &B group Maxwell.

"What is the president doing making so much noise this at night?" asked one young, female concert-goer. "Shouldn't he be sleeping so he can do his job?"

The White House didn't inform the public about the fireworks before-hand and many thought the sound from the initial burst of sparklers was gunfire or a missile attack and called 911.

WMAL, the local ABC Radio station, was flooded with complaints, including one man who demanded to know what kind of "idiot" would light firecrackers on a school night, waking his small son.

"We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused to others," said a spokeswoman for first lady Laura Bush.

There was no indication whether fireworks will become a traditional feature of state diplomacy, or whether this controversy will just burn itself out.

Rebecca Cooper contributed to this report.