Kerry holds back Bush bashing

Bashing George Bush will not be the main theme of the of this week's US Democratic Party convention, according to campaign leaders for wouldbe president John Kerry.

They say the convention, which opens under tight security in Boston today, will convey a positive message - and have been previewing speeches to make sure they focus on Kerry's plans for job creation, affordable health care and rebuilding foreign alliances.

Kerry, who is campaigning in Florida, will not show up formally to accept the party's nomination until Wednesday. His running- mate John Edwards arrives tomorrow.

Delegates will have to get by on speeches from an all-star line-up of party veterans headed by former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, former vice-president Al Gore and New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"This is the most unified convention the Democratic Party has ever had," said convention co-chairman Bill Richardson. "There won't be any bashing of the President - well, hang on, there will be some of that."