Police arrest dozens of anti-war protesters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Dozens of U.S. anti-war protesters
were arrested on Monday in demonstrations marking the third
anniversary of the Iraq war, while others denounced President
George W. Bush during an appearance in Cleveland.

Pentagon Force Protection Agency police arrested 51 people
on misdemeanor charges of failure to obey a lawful order during
a demonstration outside the Pentagon, Defense Department
spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin said.

The protesters were arrested after trying to get past a
fence that had been set up to mark out an area for their
demonstration, Irwin said. Those arrested were taken to a
nearby building and given citations and court appearance dates
before being released, Irwin said.

Police in San Francisco said they arrested 17 people from
among a small group of anti-war protesters who blocked traffic
on the city’s central Market Street.

Protesters, some in clothing similar to that worn by Iraqi
prisoners at the Abu Ghraib jail, carried antiwar signs and
chanted slogans. Some wore black hoods similar to those seen in
photographs depicting abuse at the U.S.-run prison in Iraq.

“While the U.S. claims to bring democracy and freedom, it
is actually using torture and secret detention camps to instill
fear and suppress dissent around the world,” said Sasha Wright,
one of the event’s organizers.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the hotel where Bush
spoke to the City Club of Cleveland, carrying signs stating,
“Bring our troops home now” and “Bush incompetent failure.”

Inside the hotel, Bush told an audience that he understands
that the continuing violence in Iraq has shaken the confidence
of some Americans but vowed not to abandon Iraq.

Public concern over the war has pushed his popularity
rating to the lowest of his presidency.

(Additional reporting by Adam Tanner in San Francisco)