Protest marches in major cities to begin at 7 p.m.

Stop Bush Campaign: The Stop Bush Campaign, an alliance of anti-war groups, has set 7 p.m. this evening for simultaneous anti-war rallies in Dublin, Sligo, Waterford, Tralee and Galway.

The alliance announced its plans at a press briefing in Buswells Hotel yesterday, pointing out that a ban on fly-posting by Dublin City Council had deprived it of traditional methods of informing the public.

The meeting, which was attended by the former Labour leader, Mr Ruairí Quinn, the Green Party TD Mr John Gormley, and the Sinn Féin TD Mr Aengus Ó Snodaigh, was told protests would be well-marshalled and suitable for families.

Although a Friday evening after work was not the best time for a march, according to Mr Brendan Butler of the NGO Peace Alliance, he was calling for a huge attendance at each of the protests.

Mr Richard Boyd Barrett of the Irish Anti-War Movement said the Dublin march would begin at Parnell Square, and participants would walk to Government Buildings to make their protest.

Mr Boyd-Barrett said another protest planned for Shannon on Saturday would begin at 10 a.m. at Clarecastle outside Ennis.

The Shannon protest would march towards Dromoland Castle, but it was expected the initial march would be completed by noon because of road closures in the area.

Participants were planning to then take buses back through Clarecastle, Quinn and Sixmilebridge to Shannon, where they would assemble close to the airport between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Calling for as many as possible to attend the marches, Mr Brendan Butler said there was no reason for any violence.

"We will walk to within one mile of Dromoland on Saturday, and all our venues have been agreed beforehand with the gardaí," he said.

It was a peaceful protest designed to let President Bush know he was "the most unpopular visitor ever".