Galloway 's election bid slammed

Mr Galloway announced he would stand after winning his libel case

George Galloway's decision to stand for election in east London has been criticised by Ken Livingstone.

Mr Galloway, who was expelled from Labour for comments about the Iraq war, is to contest the seat in Bethnal Green and Bow for the Respect coalition.

The mayor said by standing against sitting politician Oona King he was simply targeting the wrong politician.

Mr Livingstone said: "If he is so upset about Iraq why not stand against Tony Blair, Geoff Hoon or Jack Straw?"

"I don't see what George's problem is with one of two black women in parliament," he said.

Mr Galloway's party, Respect, has already proved popular in the constituency, topping the poll in the European elections in June and winning a by-election.

Bethnal Green and Bow has a large Asian community which amounts to just under 40% of the electorate - many of whom were opposed to the Iraq war.

Mr Galloway announced he would stand in east London in the next general election after winning £150,000 in libel damages from the Daily Telegraph over claims he received money from Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq.