Tuesday, May 30, 2006

US law targets anti-gay protests at Iraq soldier funerals

A new US law bans protests at military funerals, targeting a small but persistent group of Christian conservatives who believe that the deaths of American soldiers in Iraq are God's punishment for US tolerance of gays.

President George W Bush signed the bill into law on Memorial Day, the national holiday that honours fallen US soldiers.

Shortly after Monday's signing, protesters carrying anti-gay signs lined the road to Arlington National Cemetery as Bush's motorcade brought the president to a ceremony at the famous US war cemetery, located across the Potomac river from Washington.

Under the new Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act signed by Bush, unauthorized demonstrations are banned within 150 feet of a route leading to a US federal cemetery.

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