Prime Minister Howard heckled in Washington

May 14, 2006 - 10:00AM

A lone protester has heckled Australia's prime minister as he returned from lunch with US Vice-President Dick Cheney in Washington.

Construction worker Jay Marx, 36, repeatedly shouted "John Howard, get out of Iraq. The Bush administration is a sinking ship" as Howard spoke to waiting Australian journalists outside Blair House, the official residence where he and his wife Janette are guests of US President George W Bush.

Although Marx was at least 20 metres away from Howard and held back by iron railings, his shouts clearly distracted the prime minister.

Eventually, Secret Service agents moved a black van to block his view of Howard.

Later, Marx told journalists he had recognised Howard after seeing Australian flags outside the White House.

"I know that the majority of Australian people oppose the war, I know that John Howard has supported the Bush administration from the get-go, and it's pathetic," he said.

"It's pathetic that the Bush administration has managed to cow so many allies into supporting this war that is criminal, that is mistaken, that is horrific, that is murderous, and it has to stop.

"Okay, he (Howard) didn't start the war but he supported it from the get-go. So I think anyone who is sending troops is culpable. If no-one but the United States had troops in Iraq, then the facade of international cooperation would end."

Continued - http://snipurl.com/qfri