Straw confronted by anti-war protests

Straw confronted by anti-war protests

About 150 protesters gathered outside the Southport conference

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was confronted by anti-war protestors when he attended a Labour Party Conference in Merseyside.

He was among 500 Labour Party members who were expected to attend the meeting in Southport, two months ahead of the local elections.

About 150 protestors had gathered outside the town's Floral Hall, many wearing white "peace ribbons" to show their opposition to a war with Iraq.

They included members of CND, Greenpeace, the Green Party and the Stop the War Coalition.

The ribbons are on sale to raise money to help pay for a planned legal action against Mr Straw and Tony Blair if war goes ahead.

Green Party spokeswoman Dr Caroline Lucas MEP said: "Wearing a white peace ribbon will allow millions of people who feel very strongly about the war and its effect on innocent people to show their opposition."

'Intent on defiance'

At the meeting, Mr Straw dismissed Iraq's agreement to destroy its Al-Samoud 2 ballistic missiles as a cynical trick designed to buy time and avert military action.

United Nations weapons inspector Hans Blix has hailed the move as "a very significant piece of real disarmament".

But Mr Straw said it was actually further proof of Saddam Hussein's bad faith, adding he appeared "intent on continued defiance".

He told the conference: "It's a very familiar pattern. Iraq first declares a total `zero', saying they have nothing illegal whatever to declare.

"Then, under pressure, they cynically trickle out concessions to divide the Security Council, buy time, and avert military action while continuing concealment.

"But his games should prove nothing but his own bad faith.

"The two key words in Resolution 1441 are full and immediate: full and immediate compliance; full and immediate co-operation; full and immediate disarmament of his weapons of mass destruction.

"For Saddam, such behaviour appears beyond him."