100,000 set to protest Bush visit to Britain

SUPPORT for a huge demonstration against US President George W Bush’s visit to Britain was growing last night on the eve of last ditch talks aimed at agreeing a route for the march.

Officials said attendance at the protest could be more than 100,000. Organisers of the demo, due to be held in central London on Thursday, will meet Scotland Yard officers today to try to end deadlock over which roads can be included on the march.

The Stop The War Coalition said it remained hopeful of reaching an agreement.

An official yesterday said there could be huge problems if no agreement was made before the march which is expected to attract tens of thousand of people opposed to the war with Iraq.

Earlier, Mr Bush told anti-war campaigners they were lucky to be free to protest at his visit. He had a message for those planning to turn out when he appeared on the BBC1 Breakfast with Frost programme.

"Freedom is a beautiful thing, I would first say, and it's aren't you lucky to be in a country that encourages people to speak their mind?

"Secondly, I would say that I understand you don't like war, and neither do I.

"But I would hope you understand that I have learned the lessons of September the 11th, 2001, and that terrorists declared war on the United States of America and war on people that love freedom, and I intend to lead our nation along with others, like our close friends in Great Britain to win this war on terror," he said.