Bush goes home amid last spate of protest in Blair's constituency

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, November 22, 2003

Bush goes home amid last spate of protest in Blair's constituency

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Last spate of daily protests against US President George W. Bush visit to Britain drew about 500 people upon his arrival at British Prime Minister Tony Blair's constituency Friday, a few hours before his flight back to the US, police said.

The police said it cost them one million pounds (1.67 million US dollars) for the few hours of security operation in Sedgefield, northeastern England, with some 1,300 police on duty to protect the American president.

The president, and wife Laura, is now flying by helicopter to Teesside Airport to board Air Force One backing to America.

The protesters in Sedgefield shouted "Bush out", waving banners and posters bearing words describing Bush as "the world's No. 1 terrorist."

They were addressed by local politicians and leaders of the Stop The War coalition. The group played a key role in organizing Thursday's mass march attended by about 200,000 people from all over the country in London.

"We want George Bush to understand that when he scuttled out of London, there would be no escape from us in the North East," said John Rees of the Stop the War coalition.

"We have made a mockery of this visit and it deserves to be made a mockery of because they wanted to make a mockery of us," he said.

But Bush also received welcome as his helicopter landed on playing fields in Trimdon near Blair's Myrobella home.

"Blair lives here, we wanted him as our MP (member of parliament), and if he wants to invite Mr. Bush, then it is a great honor for the people of Trimdon," coach driver Michael Evans was quoted by a BBC report as saying.

Police said they had arrested at least 77 people for a range of offenses including public disorder, drunkenness, writing graffiti and car crime so far during the president's state visit starting Tuesday.

Bush's visit this week is thought a grand celebration of Britain's special relationship with America but the protests have been poised to make the stay "a public relations disaster for Mr Blair and Mr Bush," local media commented.

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