BRITAIN: Anti-war campaigners are planning to burn grinning effigies of George Bush on bonfires around Britain on Wednesday (Bonfire Night), hoping to stoke up opposition to his state visit to Britain later this month.
The gesture is an apt one, for the US president can expect fireworks when he arrives on November 19th. Protesters angered by the invitation hope it will backfire on the government.
Activists say it is galvanising opposition to the occupation of Iraq, and demonstrators will travel from across Europe.
"Although people were prepared to suspend their disbelief [to support troops], events around the war and immediately afterwards have made them think they should be opposing it again," said Ms Lindsey German of the Stop the War coalition.
President Bush's three-day stay is the first official visit by a US president since Ronald Reagan's in 1982. But Downing Street has refused to comment, beyond describing it as an opportunity "to deepen our close relationship with a close international partner".
Critics argue it provides Mr Bush with an opportunity to portray himself as a well-respected statesman in the run-up to next year's presidential elections.
Sir John Stevens, the Metropolitan police commissioner, expects demonstrations of up to 60,000 people and has cancelled leave for all officers.