Police were called to a college meeting on May 8 when an Oxford MP found himself at the centre of an anti-war protest.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith tried to speak to members of the Oxford University Labour Club at New College, when about six peace activists, calling themselves the Oxford Pledgers, blocked his view.

The group turned their backs on Mr Smith and held up posters showing pictures of the aftermath of bombing by the coalition forces in the war against Iraq. The pictures carried the slogans "unjust, illegal and immoral".

College security staff were called, and the police later arrived to establish calm after Mr Smith allegedly ripped a poster from one of the protesters' hands.

One of the Pledgers group, Paul Greening, said later: "We support the club's anti-war statement which condemns the war and the targeting of civilians in violation of the Geneva Convention.

"We feel Andrew Smith should take part in a public debate in the town hall, and not be given a platform to' spin'.

"There shouldn't be a platform for war-mongers."

Last night's protest was the latest in a series of anti-war tactics targeting Mr Smith since the outbreak of war in Iraq.

Shortly after the war began in Iraq, a large group of peace campaigners protested at his weekly surgery in east Oxford against Britain's involvement.

Some of Mr Smith's other surgeries were also disrupted by peace protesters.

Mr Smith was unavailable for comment.

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