Bush, Blair agree blasts fuel fight on terrorism

LONDON — President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said yesterday’s bombings in Turkey have strengthened their resolve to fight global terrorism, even as thousands marched in London protesting that policy.

“These are al Qaeda killers killing Muslims,” the president said during a joint news conference with Mr. Blair. “They need to be stopped, and we will stop them.”

Although yesterday’s attacks killed mostly Muslims, four of the 27 casualties were British.

“What this latest terrorist outrage shows us is that this is a war,” Mr. Blair said. “Our response is not to flinch or give way or concede one inch.”

The prime minister said it was “truly bizarre” for demonstrators to object to a war against terrorism that has resulted in the liberation of severely oppressed populations in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mr. Bush contented himself with championing the protesters’ right to assemble.

“Freedom is beautiful,” he said in Britain’s ornate Foreign and Commonwealth Offices. “It’s a fantastic thing to come to a country where people are able to express their views.”

Although protesters estimated they would turn out 100,000 people for an anti-Bush march through London yesterday, police said only 25,000 people actually participated in the demonstration, which ended at Trafalgar Square. Police said the crowd then grew to roughly 70,000, although protesters insisted the number was in excess of 150,000.

One demonstrator brandished a picture of a pretzel with the caption: “We hope you choke.” It was a reference to an episode in January 2002 when the president choked on a pretzel, lost consciousness, fell and bruised his face in the White House residence.

Others waved placards emblazoned with the words “STOP BU$H,” with a bloody bullet hole substituting for the letter “O.” As night fell across London, protesters toppled and stomped on a large, gold-colored effigy of the president clutching a missile.

Although polls showed more Britons supporting Mr. Bush than opposing him, British broadcaster Nick Robinson of Independent Television News repeatedly questioned the president about fervent anti-Bush sentiment.

“Why do they hate you, Mr. President?” he asked. “Why do they hate you in such numbers?”

“I don’t know that they do,” replied Mr. Bush, who pointed out that protests were banned by Saddam Hussein and the current regime in North Korea.

“I fully understand people don’t agree with war,” he added. “But I hope they agree with peace and freedom and liberty.”

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