German peace groups to protest Bush visit

Under the motto "Not Welcome, Mr. President! Bush and Merkel: End War, Stop War Plans!" the groups plan a demonstration July 14 during Bush's visit to Stralsund, in northeastern Germany.

Chancellor Angela Merkel invited Bush to visit Germany during his trip to Europe for the Group of Eight summit meeting in Russia.

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The activists said in a statement that "representatives of numerous peace organisations nationwide" met in Berlin over the weekend to coordinate their response to the visit. In addition to the protest in Stralsund, they plan "decentralised" protests on July 13 and 15 across the country.

The group criticised Merkel, saying she was an "accomplice to the foreign policy of the USA." and citing her "active role in the escalation of the Iran conflict."

"The fear cannot be brushed aside that the 'friendly' meeting in the peaceful and open Baltic Sea city of Stralsund will be turned into a war council, where Bush and Merkel agree on the next steps in the Iran conflict," the group said.

Both of Bush's previous visits to Germany have been marked by large protests, though authorities have kept demonstrators well away from the areas being directly visited by the president.