Bush under fire at anti-war rally

A series of protests were being held across London today, following the arrival of US president George Bush.

Schoolchildren were expected to mount a Bush protest at Parliament Square despite a warning from the British government yesterday for pupils not to play truant.

Meanwhile an alternative Stop Bush state procession was due to take place on the South Bank.

In addition, students and activists from across the country were expected to descend on Exxon-Mobil London headquarters in central London.

A “day of action” around the capital will also include a roaming Street Party and Resist Bush Tea Party, a London People and Planet spokesman says.

Sophie Hug, People and Planet London representative and London School of Economics student, said: “The response from students across London has been extraordinary.

“I think students are really relishing the chance to tell George W Bush what they really think of him.”

Later this afternoon, London Mayor Ken Livingstone was hosting a reception for people opposed to the war and occupation of Iraq at City Hall.

Guests were to include Vietnam veteran and peace campaigner Ron Kovic and Kate Hudson from CND.

Last night, hundreds of anti Iraq war protesters cheered and clapped speakers including UK Labour MP George Galloway, Labour’s Tony Benn and Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic, at a “Stop Bush” rally at the Quakers meeting house in central London.

Hundreds more people were left outside the packed meeting hall amid a heavy police presence.

The meeting had been called by the Stop The War coalition and other peace protesters ahead of President Bush’s visit.

Anti-war MP Mr Galloway, who has been expelled from the British Labour Party, was given a standing ovation.

Mr Galloway told the audience that the anti-war movement was “shaking the timbers in Downing Street, Whitehall, Parliament and the mass media who have done so much to take our country over this dangerous abyss”.

He said the US president was responsible for wrecking treaty after treaty including agreements on global warming, international criminal courts, land mines and chemical weapons bans.

“This is a president who is mad, bad, dangerous to know.”

Mr Galloway also attacked his own Labour leader.

“Tony Blair with his eyes wide shut decided he would take our country over that precipice with him.”

The MP denied the movement was anti-American. “We don’t have a bone of anti-Americanism in our bodies. We love the American people. We despise their leader.”