Schwarzenegger calls UK troops 'true action heroes'

London: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger hailed British troops as "true action heroes" on Thursday. The movie star turned-politician was in London to meet British Prime Minister David Cameron and to visit the capital's tourist sites.

The Governor watched the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and travelled to Wellington Barracks in London to review British troops.

Speaking in front of around 300 troops, Schwarzenegger said: "I get hailed a lot of times when I travel around the world as being the action hero. But I know the difference between a movie action hero where its make believe and the true action heroes. You all are the true action heroes because you're risking your life."

Welcoming the Governor to Downing Street, British prime Minister David Cameron quipped that Schwarzenegger was going to help him "terminate" the UK's budget deficit.

UK Treasury chief George Osborne will set out the details of a five-year programme of cuts on October 20, slashing budgets for almost all government departments, as he seeks to clear Britain's 109 billion pounds (174 billion US dollar) structural deficit.