Fifty Protesters Moon Bush In Australia

This just in from ABC:

Around 50 people have bared their bottoms in protest against APEC and the visiting US President George W Bush.

A group calling themselves 'Bums for Bush' exposed themselves in Sydney's Hyde Park during a protest rally this afternoon.

Organiser Will Saunders says its a fun and Australian way to get the anti-Iraq war message across.

"It may be the strength of feeling about George Bush, that protest doesn't need to be all doom and gloom and shooting slogans," he said.

"Just because you feel strongly about an issue doesn't mean you can't have a laugh about it as well."

Mr Saunders says it was hoped a world record for mooning would be broken, but fewer than expected numbers actually turned up.

One of the people to bare her bottom, Jo, said it was worth it for her despite the cold weather.

"We all have a bit of joke don't we, but although we can have a bit of a joke by dropping our pants today we are deadly serious about how this deadly war has to end in Iraq," she said.

Meanwhile, around 200 people protested on Elizabeth street near St James station to demonstrate against any passing motorcades belonging to APEC.

This post, written by Melissa McEwan, originally appeared on Shakesville

International embarrassment:

President Bush's trademark struggles with the finer points of public speaking were on full display Friday, when he thanked his "Austrian" hosts for inviting him to this year's "OPEC" summit.

Bush's struggles from the lectern didn't end when he stopped talking either. Press reports indicate he tried to leave the stage through the wrong door, and the Australian prime minister had to point him toward the proper exit, according to the Herald Sun newspaper.