Bush visit met by anti-war protests

US President George W Bush was met by protests when he arrived in the Austrian capital Vienna for today's US-EU summit.

US President George W Bush was met by protests when he arrived in the Austrian capital Vienna for today's US-EU summit.

Austrian police turned back an initial protest by 1,200 young students chanting "Shoot me dead, I'm not a terrorist" and "Bush go home" this morning. An estimated 10,000 protesters were expected later in the day.

Led by US peace activist Cindy Sheehan - who lost her son in Iraq - students waved black flags, blew whistles, banged on drums and shouted, "Hey, ho, Bush has got to go!"

Others carried banners that read, "World's No. 1 Terrorist," and signs that included slogans such as "Mass murderer," "Islam is not the enemy" and "Against war and capitalism."

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"Bush should at least see that this is real, that people will protest," said demonstrator Darko Martinovikc, 20. "But in the end I don't think it will help much."

Security was tight at the palace, with some 1,000 police officers assigned solely to deal with demonstrators and 2,000 others patrolling the city. Authorities said protesters would not be allowed anywhere near the venue.

President Bush is unpopular in neutral, non-aligned Austria, where recent polls suggest fewer than three in 10 people support him.