Albania ? Whatever happened to the president’s watch?

One moment President Bush was glad-handing Albanians on Sunday, proudly sporting a watch with a dark strap on his left wrist. Moments later, it was gone.

Did it fall off? Did one of his bodyguards remove it? Or did one of the crowd artfully slip it off his wrist and pocket it?

Albanian media – and international Web sites – are buzzing over a video showing Bush’s wristwatch apparently disappearing while he shakes hands with a jostling crowd of people in Fushe Kruje, 15 miles north of Tirana.

But White House spokesman Tony Snow said Bush’s watch was not stolen by someone in the crowd. “The president put it in his pocket and it returned safely home,” Snow said Tuesday.

People waiting on the sidewalks Sunday gave Bush a rapturous welcome, shaking hands with him, grabbing him by the arms and wrists, reaching out to embrace him and even ruffling his hair. Bush was clearly delighted by the attention and plunged back into the crowd for more hand shaking and to be kissed on the cheek.