APEC leaders: Trade protectionism is road to ruin

LIMA, Peru (AP) - Leaders of 21 nations that comprise half the world's economy say it's vital not to abandon free trade _ no matter how punishing the global downturn gets.  South Korean President Lee Myung-bak says the world must resist protectionist measures even though companies will keep going bankrupt and countless jobs will be lost.  U.S. President George W. Bush says such measures would «stifle innovation and strangle growth.  Both spoke Saturday at a summit of business leaders from Asia and the Americas. At their meeting in Peru, the leaders are trying to build on last weekend's Group of 20 summit in Washington in grappling with a looming global recession.  Bush said the Great Depression in the 1930s showed that protectionism leads only to economic ruin.