World News 12-11-2003 Mayor Backs Anti-Bush Protests who: George W Bush what: To face angry protests during state visit to Britain where: LONDON when: Next week snippet: The row over President George Bush`s visit to London grew last night "amid plans to create an exclusion zone around central London to keep out protesters," reports this morning`s Mirror. Anti-war campaigners expect up to 100,000 people to attend a Whitehall rally during his three day trip. "But US security chiefs have demanded that they are kept away from the president." The Telegraph reveals that London mayor Ken Livingstone is planning a `Peace Reception` for prominent opponents of the war next Wednesday, midway through George Bush`s stay in Britain. With customary barbed wit, Mr Livingstone points out that the security measures are over-cautious in the extreme. "Some absolute monsters have come to this country - people like (former Romanian leader) Ceausescu," he tells The Mirror. "They have always been protected." But, says The Guardian, the anti-war protestors are not the reason the Americans are bringing a US Marine Corps Sea King helicopter, a Black Hawk helicopter and 15 sniffer dogs over with them. "Running street battles between the police and protesters could provide an opportunity for terrorists", in particular the opportunity for an al-Qaeda suicide bomber. A senior Scotland Yard source tells The Times that they "are not so concerned about some anti-war protester throwing rotten fruit at the President. Our worry now is the more dangerous elements who may be here." For the police, the US President`s forthcoming trip is already "a nightmare". "The original demands made by the US Secret Service were simply unacceptable," continues The Times. "They wanted to turn London into little Washington by closing roads for miles around...and immunity from prosecution for any agent who uses a gun." But Ken is having none of it. "The Americans should pay attention because we know our city best," he insists. "To create a situation in which perhaps 60,000 people remain unseen would require a shutdown of central London which is just not acceptable." [... more]

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