Activists egg Tony Blair

2005-04-12 14:57

London - Two fathers' rights activists have been arrested for throwing eggs at Prime Minister Tony Blair's car as the British leader campaigned for upcoming elections, police said on Tuesday.

The group Fathers 4 Justice confirmed two of its members were behind the act late on Monday, and promised more public disturbances in the weeks leading up to the May 5 vote.

"Last night's egg-throwing was just a taster of things to come. We're going to be pursuing Tony Blair around the country in the coming weeks," a spokesperson said.

"This was just an appetizer for the more spectacular things we've got planned."

Three eggs are believed to have hit Blair's car as it left a Labour Party rally near the northern city of Manchester.

Shouted abuse

Police said two men threw eggs and "shouted abuse" at the car, but that there were no damage or injuries.

The men, identified by Fathers 4 Justice as Graham Wilson and Michael Downes, were taken to a police station and then released on bail until April 15.

The egg-throwing, which Fathers 4 Justice said was meant to mock the government's "Humpty Dumpty" legislation, was one in a string of high-profile antics staged by the small group of activists who have been lobbying for fathers to have greater access to their children after a divorce or separation.

Since the group's formation in 2002, its members have staged a break-in at Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth's London residence, thrown flour-filled condoms at Blair in the House of Commons, scaled the London Eye jumbo ferris wheel and, in November, handcuffed themselves to the British minister in charge of children's affairs.

- AFP