Protestors flood Bush hometown

2005-08-28 08:32

Crawford, Texas - US President George W Bush on Saturday warned of more sacrifices ahead in Iraq, while thousands of his supporters and anti-war protesters flooded this one-stoplight Texas town near his ranch.

Many on both sides flew the US flag or wore its red, white, and blue colours and everyone agreed that it was paramount to "support the troops" fighting and dying thousands of kilometres away - but on little else.

Bush kept out of sight, but in his weekly radio address he urged patience with Iraq's constitutional process, saying Iraqis were "making the tough choices and compromises necessary for a free and peaceful future."

"Our efforts in Iraq and the broader Middle East will require more time, more sacrifice and continued resolve. Yet people across the Middle East are choosing a future of freedom and prosperity and hope," he said.

Not far from Bush's ranch, police kept dozens of his supporters and about the same number of anti-war protesters on separate sides of a narrow country road, while the two sides jeered at each other and waved flags and signs.

Police arrested two people for "disorderly conduct," according to Captain Kenneth Vanek of the McLennan county sheriff's office, who said that they faced a fine of up to $500 for improper "language."

Asked which side had produced the offenders, Vanek replied: "They were no side. They didn't get along with anybody."

Each side had their champion: The anti-war group rallied behind Cindy Sheehan, who soldier son Case was killed in Iraq in April 2004, while Bush supporters stood with Gary Qualls, who son Louis was killed in Iraq late last year.

Sheehan, who met once with Bush shortly after her son was killed, sought a second meeting to confront the president and demanded a swift withdrawal of US forces from Iraq, where more than 1 870 have died.

- AFP