Peace protestors march on Belfast summit

Thousands of protesters marched on George Bush and Tony Blair’s war summit near Belfast tonight and declared: “We want nothing to do with the Iraqi massacre.”

Heavy security kept demonstrators away from Hillsborough Castle where the US President and the Prime Minister met for talks, but a procession of demonstrators snaked its way up to the County Down village to show opposition to the conflict.

Amid the beat of drums and chants the crowds told the two leaders to leave Northern Ireland.

Trade union leaders, politicians and anxious relatives of those caught up in the war all joined the rally.

One Iraqi who travelled from his new home in Derry to take part in the protest told how he lost contact with his family in Kirkuk in the northern region of the battle-ravaged country 13 days ago.

Abdul al-Jibouri, 37, launched a stinging attack on the US and British administrations.

He said: “We have come here to make sure both the cowboy and his poodle get the message, we are not supporting war.

“They need to get it into their thick heads that this is a war for oil which is leading to the slaughter of innocents.”