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Chileans disrobe, protest war on Iraq

One of the naked demonstrators painted
One of the naked demonstrators painted "PEACE" on his chest.

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SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) -- About 300 Chileans stripped naked on Saturday to protest a war on Iraq, demanding President Ricardo Lagos vote against the United States in the U.N. Security Council.

In a park area cordoned off by police, a mostly young crowd of bare-bottomed men and women jumped up and down and shouted "No to war. Yes to peace," then held up their hands and sang popular Latin American protest songs.

"Lagos, Cut the crap. Chile says no to war," said a large red banner.

Chile, one of six "swing votes" on the Security Council, is undecided on whether to support a draft resolution backed by the United States and Britain that would authorize military action against Iraq, which Washington suspects of hiding weapons of mass destruction.

"This is a call to society to join together and get naked now against the war because it means getting rid of clothing, uniforms, social classes, flags and ideologies -- all those things that divide us," said protest organizer Francisco Elgueta.

The protesters later put their clothes on and marched to the presidential palace. Police sprayed them with water cannons and arrested several people.



Copyright 2003 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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