Commons war protester in court

Brian Haw protests against the war in Iraq

An anti-war campaigner who has protested outside Parliament for three years has appeared in court charged with assaulting a police officer.

Brian Haw is also accused of failing to leave a designated security cordon at Parliament Square, Westminster in central London, on 9 May.

Prosecutors said they hoped to review CCTV footage before continuing with the case against Mr Haw, 55.

He was granted bail and ordered to return on 1 June.

The father-of-seven from Redditch, Worcestershire, has slept under a plastic sheet with his placards for nearly three years.

Banners removed

He began his protest in Parliament Square on 1 June 2001, initially calling for an end to sanctions against Iraq and then later demonstrating about the war.

Last October, Westminster Council failed in an attempt to evict the campaigner after High Court Judge Mr Justice Gray refused to grant an injunction restraining him from obstructing the pavement with his placards.

He had resisted attempts by police to force him to scale down his protest in March.

His 60ft-long display of banners were removed following his arrest.

Police had claimed there were concerns that terrorists could hide bombs under the placards.