Several thousand protestors demonstrated Monday outside the US embassy in Brussels against a fence-mending visit to Europe by US President George W. Bush. Riot-prepared police, backed up by a helicopter overhead, prevented demonstrators from approaching the diplomatic mission, although the protest remained peaceful. "Bush killer" was among slogans chanted by the protestors, organised by an umbrella group called Stop Bush which includes pacifist, human rights and environmental organisations.

Two lines of police clad in helmets and with shields and batons separated the demonstrators from the embassy compound, where the US president is staying during a two-day stop in Brussels.

On Sunday some 1,000 demonstrators had gathered, while further protests were planned during Bush's trip, which includes a summit meeting with Nato and EU leaders on Tuesday.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005