The Hindu : Bush leaves amid 'go back' slogans

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 22, 2003

International

International

Bush leaves amid 'go back' slogans

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON NOV 21. The U.S. President, George W. Bush's controversial and action-packed four-day visit to Britain ended today after provoking the biggest-ever demonstration against a foreign dignitary in recent memory as an estimated 100,000 people walked through central London on Thursday evening urging him to "go back".

The organisers put the figure at 200,000 but even by police estimates of 110,000, it was the biggest show of public anger against what was dubbed the "Bush-Blair axis" since the one-million strong anti-war march in February. The security `bubble' around Mr. Bush, however, made sure that he did not come face to face with his tormentors and, in a widely reported gaffe, his wife Laura wondered what all the fuss was about.

"We haven't seen that many protests. But we have seen many American flags and people welcoming us," she said.

Her remarks came even as, just yards away in Trafalgar Square, a life-size effigy of Mr. Bush was pulled down by a cheering crowd in a mock replay of the toppling of Saddam Hussein's statue in Baghdad. The event, greeted by loud cheers, followed a massive rally which saw protesters, wearing masks and carrying anti-war and anti-Bush banners, walk past Whitehall and Downing Street. "Thank God, there's no oil in England," said one banner while another depicted Mr. Bush as "An American war wolf in London".

For hours on Thursday, large parts of central London were taken over by peace activists, led by a disabled Vietnam veteran, Ron Kovic. Among protesters, who included school children, professionals, civil rights activists, pensioners and housewives, there were Americans who said they were `proud' of their country but `ashamed' of their President.

"This is probably one of the largest demonstrations that London has ever seen on a weekday," said a spokesman of Stop the War Coalition which had organised the march with a host of anti-war and civil liberties groups. There was no respite from protests even after the official tour ended this morning with a formal farewell from the Queen and Mr. Bush and wife flew to the Prime Minister, Tony Blair's Parliamentary constituency, Sedgefield on a private visit. Mr. Blair's constituents displayed banners and raised slogans calling Mr. Bush "World No. 1 Terrorist" while the Blairs took their guests around. This was the first time since Mr. Bush arrived in Britain four days ago that he was actually seen in public for any length of time.

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