North's leaders urged to tackle Bush on Guantanamo

Human rights protesters today urged the North's politicians to tackle US President George Bush on the issue of prisoner treatment when he visits Belfast tomorrow.

Amnesty International staged a demonstration in the city centre to voice their concerns about the detention of terror suspects without trial at Guantanamo Bay and the transfer of prisoners to other countries for interrogation – a practice known a "extraordinary rendition".

President Bush is coming to Belfast as part of his farewell tour of Europe before leaving the Oval Office in six months.

He will be hosted at Stormont Castle by the First and Deputy First ministers tomorrow afternoon after meeting both the British queen and UK prime minister Gordon Brown in London today.

Amnesty has written to Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness calling on them to raise the matter when they talk to Mr Bush at Stormont.

Joined by other protesters, around 50 activists from the campaign group dressed up in Guantanamo style Orange jump suits for the march to the City Hall.

Other demonstrations against the president’s visit are set to take place tomorrow with anti-war campaigners keen to use the event to voice their anger at the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty director in the North, said: “Today we are sending out a message from Belfast to President Bush and the US administration that we want to see international law respected.

“We want to see an end to the human rights abuses committed in the name of the so-called war on terror and we would like our local politicians to echo those feelings.”

The president and first lady Laura Bush will travel to the North with Brown.

It is understood Bush has also asked to meet former First Minister Ian Paisley at the Stormont reception after apparently striking up a good rapport with the North Antrim MP during his visit to the USA last year.

Later in the day, Mr Bush is due to meet pupils and teachers at a co-religious school in the city. At the same time, the First Lady will attend a series of private engagements.

Tomorrow will be the second time Mr Bush has visited the North as president.

In 2003 he attended a summit meeting with then British prime minister Tony Blair at Hillsborough Castle.

The Stormont estate has been closed over the weekend as security sweeps are conducted. A no-fly zone has been imposed over parts of the city ahead of the president’s arrival.

Assembly business has been cancelled tomorrow to accommodate the event.