Los Angeles, June 28: About 1,000 demonstrators shouting for President George W. Bush's impeachment gathered outside a hotel here where the president was helping raise USD 3.6 million for his re-election campaign. The protesters accused Bush of lying about the presence of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, a central justification for the US-British invasion of Iraq in march. To date no such weapons have been found in the country.
Inside the hotel, meanwhile, republican party faithful pledged another USD 3.6 million for the 2004 elections, organisers said. A similar event earlier in the day in San Francisco raised USD 1.6 million.
From Los Angeles, Bush was to travel on to Crawford, Texas to spend the weekend at his ranch there.
On Monday he will attend another campaign event in Florida, where his brother Jeb is governor, before returning to the White House in Washington.
The Republican Party hopes to raise USD 200 million for the elections in November 2004 when Bush is expected to stand again with vice president Dick Cheney.
Bush and Cheney have stepped up their travels in recent weeks to raise money at campaign meetings.
The Republican faithful pay up to USD 2,000 to attend such events and hear a Bush speech. Wealthy supporters pay even more to speak with Bush and possibly have a photo taken with the President.
Nine democrats are currently battling for their party's nomination to take on Bush. The winner will be decided in the primary elections which start in January.
Bureau Report