New York: Thousands of anti-war demonstrators took to the streets in New York today (Aug 30, 2004) to protest against US President George W Bush's Iraq policies hours before his Republican party gathered for its national convention amidst tight security.

Across the New York harbour in Manhattan, demonstrators marched past the Madison Square Gardens and jammed streets chanting "no more Bush" and carrying flag-draped boxes resembling coffins and fly swatters with President Bush's image.

Each "coffin" represented one American soldier killed in the war against Iraq and demonstrators said they wanted people to see coffins, which the Government did not want them to see.

They were led by activists including filmmaker Michael Moore and former Presidential hopeful Jesse Jackson.

'United For Peace and Justice,' the group opposed to the war in Iraq, which organised the protest, estimated the number of demonstrators at some 400,000. Police did not release any estimates and most reports put the number at around 120,000. But all agreed that it was biggest anti-war demonstration seen in New York.

Several hundred other groups with different causes joined the United For Peace and marchers beat drums, sang songs and seemed to be enjoying themselves in the comfortable weather. The groups included gay rights activists, immigrants' rights groups, those demanding universal health care, among others.

The demonstrators accused the Bush administration of waging an "unjust war" in Iraq, undermining women's reproductive rights, including abortion rights, and attacked its economic policies.

At the Madison Square Garden, venue for the four-day Republican convention, some delegates, who arrived early, shouted "four more years for Bush" and asked the demonstrators to "go home." Similar slogans from smaller groups greeted the protesters at some other points. But mostly pro Bush elements maintained invisibility.

There was no major confrontation with the law enforcement personnel though police officers in riot gear accompanied them and there was heavy presence of police throughout the route.

Some 200 people were arrested mainly for obstructing traffic and there were moments of panic when a paper dragon carried by a protester was set on fire near the Madison Square Garden. About a dozen persons were arrested and two police officers were said to have sustained minor injuries. The fire was quickly put out.

The convention is held just a short distance from the World Trade Centre, which was destroyed in the Sept 11, 2001 terror attacks, and just days ahead of the third anniversary of those attacks.

U S Vice President Dick Cheney lauded Bush's war leadership on the eve of the convention.

"All of us are gathering this week for one reason and one reason only, and that is to make certain that George W Bush is President for the next four years," Cheney told a gathering in Ellis island, against the backdrop of the New York skyline, in an informal kick-off to the Bush's nominating convention which opens today.