US movie star leads anti-war rally

US movie star Martin Sheen on Saturday led thousands of people in a rowdy protest march in Los Angeles against President George W. Bush's plans for a possible war with Iraq.

Sheen, who plays a fictional US president on the hit television show "The West Wing," called for Americans to fight for a peaceful approach to the Washington's crisis centring on Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"A lot of people have been silenced for a long time but that is ending," he said. "We are telling the world that we are patriotic Americans but we do not support going to war with Iraq.

"From this time forth, may all our thoughts and deeds be a non-violent response to violence," he told the cheering crowd in a presidential tone.

Police sources said that up to 6,000 demonstrators took part in a protest march and rally held in front of government buildings in the west coast city's downtown area, chanting "no blood for oil" and "stop Bush now."

Sheen, a veteran anti-nuclear campaigner who was the main speaker at the rally, has been one of the most vociferous opponents in Hollywood to Washington's policy toward Iraq.

Sheen pushed the wheelchair of celebrated Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic, who suffered severe war wounds and whose story was featured in the movie "Born on the Fourth of July."