Jean Peach wrote: <Can anyone tell me when Bush's is visiting London. Why I ask is this. First we had Ken Livingstone saying he had been told to close the centre of London down for the three days that Bush would be here on an official visit, he is apparently staying with the Queen.>
A quick google came up with this from the Evening Standard newspaper: "Anti-war protesters today vowed to swamp London streets when George Bush makes a state visit as guest of the Queen from 19-21 November. Police are planning the biggest security operation ever seen in Britain, amid fears of terrorist attacks, and that tensions over Iraq will cause violence. President Bush will stay at Buckingham Palace and will be honoured by a state banquet. He will hold talks with Tony Blair and may be invited to address Parliament. The trip is a payback for the rapturous greeting given to Tony Blair in July by the US Congress for his backing over Iraq. Andrew Murray, of the Stop the War Coalition, said the protest could attract record crowds." I also heard on Radio 4 this morning that there will be 5,000 police on the streets as well as Bush's security people and that streets will be closed as thought necessary, ie when Bush is travelling along them. The streets are being closed so that protestors can't get near the routes he'll take and Bush won't see them. There's been some concern that security will be taken out of the hands of the British police, but the police are saying that they are in overall control and that the American security people will be answerable to them. Personally, I wouldn't visit London while this is going on as a lot of our police are bound to be armed, and we're not used to seeing firearms being carried on our streets. I'd be worried by that. Jean in Poole To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
