Stars plead for peace at Oscars

HOLLYWOOD has come out against war on Iraq as the stars used the Oscars as a platform to plead for peace.

One after another, the winners took to the stage in Los Angeles on Sunday night and appealed for an end to the conflict.

Best actress Nicole Kidman expressed sympathy for families who have lost loved ones in the war, while Bowling For Columbine director Michael Moore launched a scathing attack on President George W Bush.

To a mixture of boos and applause, Moore was harshly critical of President George Bush and the US war effort, shouting "Shame on you, Mr Bush. Shame on you" as the orchestra played him off.

Adrien Brody, winner of the best actor award for The Pianist, received a standing ovation when he said: "Whether you believe in God or Allah, may He watch over you and let's pray for a peaceful and swift resolution."

As predicted, the night belonged to Chicago, which took home six Oscars, including best picture and best supporting actress for Catherine Zeta Jones.

The Welsh star, due to give birth in just two weeks, said: "My hormones are too way out of control to be dealing with this."

She collected the award from Sean Connery and joked: "A Scotsman giving a Welsh girl an award, I can't believe it."

Despite her pregnancy she was determined to perform at the ceremony and sang a duet with Chicago co-star, Queen Latifah.

A medical team and ambulance were on stand-by in case she suddenly went into labour.

There was disappointment for U2 who left empty-handed after their song for the Gangs Of New York soundtrack, The Hands That Built America, lost out to Eminem's Lose Yourself from his debut film 8 Mile.

The Pianist was the surprise winner with awards for best actor, best adapted screenplay and the biggest surprise of all best director for Roman Polanski. Polanski was not present to receive the award as he is still wanted in the US where he is yet to be sentenced for a statutory rape conviction in 1977.

The Hours had only one win, best actress for Nicole Kidman, and Gangs Of New York was the night's big loser, failing to pick up a single Oscar.

But the 75th Academy Awards were a subdued affair as war was at the forefront of everybody's minds.

Organisers had scaled back the event, believing the usual glitz and glamour would be inappropriate.

The traditional walk down the red carpet was scrapped and instead the stars were ferried straight to the door of Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.

Security for the event was unprecedented with the National Guard drafted in and police marksmen on stand-by.

Thousands of anti-war protesters had gathered outside the theatre along with several hundred pro-war demonstrators.

A handful of celebrities, including Will Smith, Cate Blanchett and Jim Carrey, chose to stay away from the event.

Others wore peace pins to register their protest against the war.

Daniel Day-Lewis, Susan Sarandon, Adrien Brody and Spanish director Pedro Almodovar all wore the dove-shaped symbols.

In keeping with the muted atmosphere, actresses including Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Connelly wore simple black dresses.