In Copenhagen anti-war militants of the Globaler Roedder (Global Roots) movement meanwhile dumped red paint on the steps of the Danish parliament, while in Rome a peace concert by Milan's prestigious La Scala orchestra was disrupted by students.

Up to seven activists were arrested after painting the symbols on the facade and the entrance to the Swedish government's information office in Stockholm.

On leaflets activists also protested at continuing arms sales as the US-led war against Iraq was in its third week.

Under Swedish law no military materiel must be exported to countries involved in an armed conflict but Stockholm has said that such exports were in Sweden's interest as its own security was at stake.

In Denmark a Globaler Roedder spokesman said the protest was to highlight "that a (right-wing) majority has blood on their hands" after giving the green light for a Danish participation in the Anglo-American campaign against Iraq. Police said no arrests were made.

Globaler Roedder militants overnight also broke the windows of the Maersk Data company, a subsidiary of the A.P. Moeller group whose pro-US stance is well-known, throwing containers with red paint at the facade and painting "No War" on a wall.

A 27-year-old man was arrested after the incident.

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller had been targeted in a red paint attack two days before the Iraq war began on March 20.

That attack came after Rasmussen announced that Denmark would contribute a submarine, a corvette, liaison officers and medics to any US-led war effort in Iraq, but he dropped an earlier plan to also send a corps of elite soldiers.

In Rome, some 50 anti-war protesters disrupted a Concert for Peace by conductor Riccardo Muti and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Milan's La Scala opera house late Monday, shouting "Stop the war" and "No peace, no party". The protesters, mainly students, also deployed several anti-war banners.

But Muti told the protesters, "We are here to remember those who suffer and for peace".

Muti recalled that he had played in Sarajevo, Beirut and Jerusalem to bring home his message of peace.

SPACE.WIRE