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Protest over Clinton speech http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,3413213%255E1702,00.html >From AP 11dec01 GLASGOW: Former US president Bill Clinton was the target of pro-Palestinian demonstrators as he prepared to begin a speaking tour organised by a Jewish charity. About 300 protesters gathered outside the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow and shouted and jeered at guests arriving for the centenary fundraising dinner, hosted by the Jewish National Fund. About a dozen demonstrators dumped a burning effigy of Clinton near the entrance to the hotel, forcing security staff to put out the flames with fire extinguishers. Many chanted "shame" and "Palestine" and waved banners which read "Stop Israel's War Crimes" and "Justice Through Peace." The British-based charity was founded in 1901 to raise money to purchase land throughout Palestine in the hope that a state of Israel would one day be established. Joint vice-president Stanley Lovatt said Clinton's three fundraising dinners had been organised to raise money for a reservoir project in the Negev region of Israel. "The Israeli problem is only going to form a small part of Mr Clinton's speech, the rest will be taken up with thoughts about US and British relations and his thoughts as a former world leader," Lovatt said. Clinton, who flew into Scotland earlier in the day and played golf at Turnberry on the west coast, arrived at the hotel before most of the demonstrators began to gather. He told reporters he would be talking about the campaign in Afghanistan and the war on terrorism, but refused to comment on the protests against his visit. "I can't comment on the protests because I don't know what they are upset about," he said. MP Tommy Sheridan, who is a Scottish Socialist Party member in the Scottish parliament, said he was attending the demonstration to "stand up against the injustice of an illegal occupation of Palestine, supported and financed by the United States of America, both past presidents and present". About 750 guests have paid L125 ($350) a head to hear the former president speak in Glasgow, followed by a question and answer session with the audience. Clinton will address another fundraising dinner in Manchester, northern England, tomorrow and a third in London the next day. ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
