Anti-war campaigners accuse Government

The organisation’s director Richard Boyd Barrett made the remarks as he announced details of a protest at Shannon airport next Saturday.

"Instead of the Government responding to demands and aspirations of that demonstration (the February 15 protest) and ending their support for the US war drive against Iraq they have instead chosen to mudsling at the Anti-War Movement and tell downright lies about the Anti-War movement,” Mr Boyd Barrett said.

He was responding to remarks by Ms Harney, who said on Friday that the extreme left in Ireland had always been virulently anti-American and anti-EU.

She contested reports that her comments were directed at the 100,000 protesters who took to the streets of Dublin on February 15 to support the worldwide day of action.

Mr McDowell said on Sunday that he shared Ms Harney’s view that a small minority of those involved in the anti-war movement were anti-American. Speaking at today’s anti-war press conference in Dublin Labour’s Michael D Higgins accused the Government of refusing to debate Iraq.

“They refuse to debate the Middle East and their party has a record of singular ignorance on international affairs anywhere,” he said.

“They simply will not come out in public and debate those issues.”

Green MEP Patricia McKenna said it was disappointing that the Government was not backing the French and German initiative.

“Basically we seem to be afraid to come out and say we are actually backing what France is trying to do,” she said.

“Instead we are sitting on the fence. The Government has still refused point blank to speculate on what would happen if there was unilateral action.”

The Anti-War Movement is organising a march in Shannon on Saturday March 1 in protest at the continued use of the town’s airport for the refuelling of US planes.