"Every day I’m here, 200 children aged under five are dying in Iraq; dying from cancers which we gave them with our depleted uranium.

We’ve been bombing Iraq for 12 years. It’s an object lesson from the West saying ‘Don’t mess with our oil ever again’ because of the oil price hike in the 70s. If they go to war, Tony Blair and George Bush will be finishing off the murder of a nation of innocents – the Good Samaritans killing the infants.

The Iraqi people say they don’t understand why we’re going to war against them again, when they have no water, no food and no medicine. That country is like a fortress under siege, and the sanctions are stopping the rebuilding of the country.

Saddam has to be removed for American oil interests. That’s the truth. I’m tired of the bogeyman stuff. That’s all scaremongering, Hollywood stories. We’re the ones with the weapons and we’re the ones using them.

This dossier of evidence against Saddam was produced three hours before it’s meant to be debated. If I went to a court of law with that business, they would say it was nonsense. You have to present the evidence in time. This is contempt for law.

I’ve got a wife and seven children who are more precious to me than life itself. I came here for them and they come and visit when they can. I woke up at 2am one night to find my daughter Maria by my side. I missed her 18th birthday and I’m sad about that. But there is an Iraqi girl called Ezra who died aged 17 from cancer which we gave her.

I’ve had the good, the bad and the ugly walking past me. One night, I went to the toilet and came back to find a poem about love written by a young girl. Another time, six guys challenged me, spat on my bed and kicked it over. I was meant to be intimidated by them, but I’m not anyone’s punch bag.

I see the media guys walking by me, with cameras on their shoulders, while the kids are dying. And I’ve been across the road from Parliament for 482 days and nights, but do any MPs feel the need to come and see me? Only five have bothered, and Tony Benn is the only one who has sat on that bench with me. He’s a good guy.

I’m in marvellous health. I can’t afford to be sick. God must be looking after me because I’m looking after the kids and I've survived here for 482 days."

Photographs by Phil Coomes

Some of your comments so far:

I salute Brain Haw for his courageous stance and admire his attitude and determination. Apathy is a widespread disease these days and people have no interest in what is being carried out in their name. I hope more people take a stance against the aggression of the US/UK.
Rio Crespo, United Kingdom

War on Saddam? Yes. War on Iraq? No.
Sam Shipstone, Isle of Man

Attacking Iraq will kill thousands of innocents. By doing this we will also become mass murderers like Saddam. What would be the difference between him and us then?
V N Khannah, UK