Parliament campers defy moves to oust them

Parliament Square protesters vowed to stay put today despite being ordered to dismantle their campsite for "blocking the public highway".

Westminster council has served legal letters on 30 protesters on the pavement around the square outside the Houses of Parliament.

They have been told to clear away their tents, boxes and placards by 5pm on Friday or face a High Court injunction forcing them to leave.

The council is attempting to use the 1980 Highways Act, which states it is an offence to "wilfully obstruct the public highway".

But Maria Gallastegui and Mark Williams, of the Peace Strike campaign group, have accused the council of "strong-arm tactics". They said they had successfully applied for the right to protest under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

Ms Gallastegui, 52, who has been protesting in Parliament Square for five years, said: "We will challenge the law and we will resist. After being peaceful and running my campaign in good order, which I think is not in dispute, why on these grounds should I leave?" Mr Williams, 49, said: "We are registered and have official permission to be here, but they are going on about our supposed illegal occupation of the square."

It is thought the legal order does not apply to protester Brian Haw as his tent is on the green and so falls under the remit of the Greater London Authority. Westminster council tried to stop him obstructing the pavement in 2002 but the High Court said the application would breach his human rights. Mr Haw, who has been encamped since 2001, flew abroad this month for treatment for lung cancer.

Westminster has previously called for the law to be changed to stop protesters creating permanent encampments on the pavement.