Naked bum protest spills onto Sydney Street

 A protest involving about 50 bare-bottomed activists spilled onto Sydney streets today, stalling an Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation forum motorcade and triggering scuffles with police.

The Bums for Bush campaign was hailed a success by organisers, even though drizzling rain kept many protesters away from the mooning anti-Bush protest.

Around 50 people lined up at Hyde Park's north end and mooned an audience of several hundred people, including supporters and media.

After two encores of the performance, rain dispersed the protest, which then moved to Elizabeth Street, outside the Sheraton on the Park hotel, where witnesses said protesters blocked an Apec motorcade.

Protesters took to the streets before police officers forcibly pushed people off the road, yelling: "Move, get off the road." 


Around 200 protesters lined both sides of Elizabeth Street and played blaring music, as police on bicycles stood watch.

Barely minutes after many in the crowd moved towards the hotel, a helicopter swooped over the scene while a bus delivered an extra 20 police officers.

Protesters, carrying placards reading "Sign Kyoto, you wankers", cheered and clapped, chanting "Bush, Howard, USA, how many kids did you kill today?"

Police could not immediately confirm the reports that protesters had hindered a motorcade.