Actor Sheen in new protest

From correspondents in Los Angeles

03apr03

ACTOR Martin Sheen has led a group of female anti-war protesters carrying blood-stained children's clothing and grim pictures of Iraqi women and children.

About 300 people demonstrated outside US federal government offices in Los Angeles, and about 15 were arrested for blocking access to the facilities, witnesses said.

As the group sang peace songs, Sheen, 62, who plays a US president in TV's The West Wing, walked past the federal building carrying a cross.

The Hollywood star has been active in anti-war protests in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Prior to the war in Iraq he appeared in television commercials urging viewers to try to stop the conflict.