A demonstrator stands beside coffins draped with American flags as part of protests against Bush’s policies in Iraq (Reuters)

WASHINGTON, January 21 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Thousands of flag-draped coffins and jeering protesters, mostly opponents to the US-led invasion of Iraq, gathered to condemn US President George W. Bush’s policies he was sworn in for a second presidential term.

Much to trigger more criticism from his skeptics, Bush claimed in his inauguration speech on Thursday, January 21, to do utmost efforts to establish "freedom" all around the globe, not ruling out no more pre-emptive attacks against world countries.

As Bush’s motorcade made its way down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House amid the tightest security in inaugural history, thousands of protesters along the parade route and nearby downtown streets booed, said Reuters.

The demonstrators chanted slogans and carried placards condemning Bush's policies at home and abroad, Reuters reported Friday, January 21.

As the US President drove slowly past, groups of protestors yelled, "George Bush you can't hide. We charge you with genocide," while others turned their back to the mobile presidential motorcade.

"Blood is on your hands" and " Iraq is Arabic for Vietnam ," were also among the placards waved by the anti-war protestors.

"There are a lot of people dying overseas for nothing and I'm here to get my voice heard," said Bill Coffelt, 40, an engineer from Fairfax , Va.

Without a UN authorization, US President Bush launched an invasion of Iraq on claims that it possessed weapons of mass destruction.

None of these banned weapons have been found in Iraq so far, raising fears the invasion of the oil-rich country was based on false pretexts.

Mock Coffins

Bush takes the oath of office during his inauguration ceremonies (Reuters)

Hundreds of mock coffins were carried by the protestors along 16th Street, a downtown thoroughfare leading to the White House, to remind the American public ofthe mounting US casualties in Iraq.

"It's beyond comprehension the damage this man has done," said Meredith Lair, 32, who just completed a doctorate in history at Pennsylvania State University.

"I think it's horrifying what we're doing to Iraq," said Lair, who was carrying a sign that read, "Mr. Bush, under my mittens I'm giving you the finger."

Just outside the White House grounds, a group of protesters also staged a "die-in." After shouting a chant of "Stop the killing, stop the war," the protestors dropped to the pavement one by one as one of them began reading a list of those killed in Iraq .

"He (Bush) says he's bringing freedom to the world, and we're getting pepper-sprayed for our First Amendment rights. That's kind of ironic," said 22-year-old Dustin, who works for the National Institutes of Health.

Bush pledged to work to heal the country divided by the Iraq invasion and vowed to advance freedom against what he termed "rulers of outlaw regimes".

"We have known divisions, which must be healed to move forward in great purposes, and I will strive in good faith to heal them," said Bush, whose 52 percent approval rating is the lowest for a returning president since Richard Nixon in 1973.

"The rulers of outlaw regimes can know that we still believe as Abraham Lincoln did: 'Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under the rule of a just God, cannot long retain it."

He, however, did not name any "outlaw regimes," but Vice President Dick Cheney told MSNBC that " Iran is right at the top of the list" of potential trouble spots over its nuclear program.

The United States, and its Mideast ally Israel , accuse Iran of secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Tehran denies the accusation, saying it merely wants to produce fuel to generate nuclear energy.

Grim Picture

Bush’s inaugural ceremonies, the first since the September 11 attacks, which were held amid tightened security measures, came after a key BBC World Service poll was released one day earlier.

A wide majority of people questioned in the global opinion poll believe that Bush has made the world more dangerous.

Almost half of the nearly 21,000 people in 21 countries who responded to the poll also made no distinction between the Bush administration and the US itself, Agence France Presse (AFP) said.

"Negative feelings about Bush are high and are generalizing to the American people who reelected him," said Steven Kull, director of the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland, which conducted the poll.

"This is quite a grim picture for the US," he said.