Speaking at a prayer vigil outside the White House that she has joined every day for more than three weeks, Maguire implored US President George W. Bush and his British ally, Prime Minister Tony Blair, to "think of the little children."

"Through our stupid policies we have crucified the Iraqi people," Maguire said.

Standing in a circle with about 30 others attending the vigil, she implored Bush and Blair to "please think of all the little children around the world, while we burn up weapons that will never be used again."

Maguire was spurred to take up the struggle for peace in Northern Ireland -- for which she was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1976 -- by the violent deaths of her sister, eight-year-old niece and two nephews, aged two and six weeks.

She has unsuccessfully sought a meeting with Bush since arriving in Washington on March 24, and plans to return home on Friday.

Maguire faces prosecution for a civil disobedience action outside the White House on March 27, when she was arrested along with 67 other anti-war protesters including 1997 Nobel peace laureate Jody Williams, famous for her work to eradicate land mines.

Also arrested was Daniel Ellsberg, the former US government official who leaked the Pentagon Papers to the news media during the Vietnam War, and scores of religious leaders.

Maguire has been ordered to appear in court on May 29 but plans to return home on Friday, and a spokesman for Pax Christi, a Catholic pacifist group, said the case against her was likely to be thrown out.

SPACE.WIRE