WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush and his Democratic challenger Senator John Kerry will hold three televised debates before the November 2 election, their campaigns said.
The two sides said in a statement the candidates would meet on September 30 at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida to square off on foreign policy and homeland security.
They will meet on October 8 at Washington University in the midwestern city of St, Louis, Missouri to discuss all topics, and hold a final encounter on domestic and economic issues on October 13 at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.
Vice President Dick Cheney and his Democratic counterpart Senator John Edwards will hold a single debate on all questions on October 5 at Case Western Reserve University in the midwestern city of Cleveland, Ohio.
The statement, coming after weeks of negotiations, was issued by former secretary of state James Baker, who headed the Republican team, and Kerry adviser Vernon Jordan, who led the Democratic delegation.
"We are pleased to announce today that President Bush and Senator Kerry will participate in three debates," the statement said, ending speculation that Bush was trying to opt out of the second encounter.
"The debates will provide an opportunity for President Bush and Senator Kerry to have a serious discussion about the important issues to be decided in this election," the statement said.
It said the schedule was worked out with the Commission on Presidential Debates, which is organizing the events, to "ensure a productive and fruitful exchange of ideas about the most important issues facing Americans today."
"Both President Bush and Senator Kerry are pleased with today's announcement and look forward to the debates," the two campaigns said.