Irish anti-war movement dismayed at Bush 'win'

The Irish Anti-War Movement has expressed disappointment at the likely re-election of US President George W. Bush, warning the result will lead to a "bloody escalation" of the war in Iraq.

The coalition's chairman, Mr Richard Boyd Barrett, said the election would give Mr Bush "confidence to intensify his assault on Iraq".

Speaking at a conference in Dublin today, Mr Boyd Barret warned a Bush victory would give "the green light" for renewed US army assaults on the Iraqi towns of Fallujah and  Ramadi, which he said would result in "civilian massacres".

He claimed the Government had "deepened its complicity" with the invasion of Iraq by continuing to allow US troops to use Shannon Airport and had showed"utter contempt" for Irish people who opposed the war.

Mr Boyd Barret appealed to Irish people who opposed the war to take to the streets in protest at what he described as the "bloodbath in Iraq". The Irish Anti-War Movement has planned a protest outside the US embassy in Dublin tomorrow.

Labour Party chief whip Mr Emmet Stagg claimed the Government's ambivalence over Iraq was exposed by the growing use of Shannon Airport by US troops. He said over 100,000 troops had passed through the airport on their way to Iraq and this figure would reach 350,000 by the end of the year.

He said he was concerned by "repeated allegations that "suspect terrorists" are being transported in planes through Shannon on their way to illegal detention and possibly torture for information".

"It is not sufficient for Minister Cullen to state that each landing by this plane was 'a technical stop' and that no passengers left the plane. What he has not answered is whether prisoners, illegally held or otherwise, are being transported through Shannon," he said.

Sinn Féin MEP Ms Bairbre de Brún said: "As a neutral state, the 26 counties should not facilitate the use of our airspace or of Shannon Airport by those actively involved in the fighting."

She called on the Government to put an end to the use of Shannon Airport "as a staging area for those involved in the occupation of Iraq" and urged people to turn out for a peaceful demonstration at Shannon Airport on November 13th, to "defend our position of neutrality"

Green Party TD Mr John Gormley said the re-election of Mr Bush was "bad for the US and bad for world community". He said Mr Bush was the biggest recruiting agency for terrorism and his election would leave the world more violent and divided.

Mr Gormley added the Government was facilitating the US war effort "by simply handing-over" Shannon Airport. He said it was "sickening" to hear Mr Cullen boasting about money made from landing charges at Shannon when the airport was being used to aid an illegal attack on Iraq.

Ireland was the only so-called neutral state to allow this practice, he said.