ANTI-WAR protesters from all over Ireland are expected to gather at Hillsborough on Monday evening to bring their message of peace directly to President George Bush.

A number of buses will travel to Belfast from Dublin and other parts of the Republic as President Bush visits the province to meet with Prime Minister Tony Blair.

A spokesman for the Stop the War Coalition said: "This is unbelievable. The so-called peace summit at Hillsborough pauses for a council of war.

"Bush is here to meet Blair where they think there is the least amount of opposition."

The Schools Against the War group is also urging people to take to show their opposition to the Iraq campaign.

A spokesman said: "The hypocrisy of Tony Blair is unbelievable. How can they come here with a straight face and talk about peace when they are waging an illegal and unjust war against Iraq?"

"School students will take to the streets wherever George Bush goes in Ireland, Britain or Europe," he added.

The Green Parties in Northern Ireland and the Republic issued a joint condemnation of Mr Bush's visit to the province.

Northern Ireland Green Party leader John Barry said: "This visit is not just hypocritical but insulting. While waging an unjust and illegal war in Iraq, President Bush is coming here to talk about peace."

Copyright 2003 Belfast Telegraph

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