President Bush has welcomed the demonstrations which appear set to overshadow his state visit to the UK.

The president is facing a series "Stop Bush" protests during his three-day visit to London later this week.

Over 4,000 police and 700 US security service operatives will be on patrol in the Capital during the event.

Fears over an al Qaeda attack during the visit have led to an unprecedented security operation in London.

Intelligence suggests that the terror groups are "on the move" and may attempt a "spectacular" attack on the UK mainland during the president's visit.

The police is also facing the prospect of widespread anti-war protests - with some anarchist groups intent on breaching the security "bubble" around the first family.

Speaking to Breakfast with Frost, the president said he was unphased about the prospect of demonstrations.

"Freedom is a beautiful thing. I value going to a country where people are free to say anything they want to say," he said.

"Secondly, I would say that I understand you don't like war, and neither do I.

"War is my last choice, not my first choice, but I have obligation as the president to keep our country secure."

More than half of all British voters back the planned demonstrations against President Bush, a poll published on Sunday revealed.

The You Gov poll for the Sunday Times also found that 60 per cent of Britons believe the president is a threat to world peace.

Thirty seven per cent of those polled believe he "is stupid" and 33 per cent class him as "incoherent".

Anti-war MPs spent the weekend stoking up the pressure on the prime minister. Robin Cook said the British government should not allow itself to be "used" in the looming presidential election.

Whilst he accepted that the White House had not forseen the scale of the protests, Cook said Bush was set for "the mother of all photo opportunities" at Buckingham Palace.

He said the president's campaign managers would seize on the "pomp and circumstance of an official state visit".

"When you think back to how closely we worked with President Clinton and how helpful President Clinton was to British interests, particularly on Northern Ireland, I do find it mystifying that the same Royal visits committee that decided President Clinton doesn't merit the honour of an official state visit should now decide that President Bush does," he added.

Meanwhile the president has spoken frankly about his relationship with the prime minister.

"Tony is a man of strong faith. You know, the key to my relationship with Tony is he tells the truth and he tells you what he thinks," he said.

"And when he says he's going to do something, he's going to do it. I trust him, therefore. I have seen him - under some tough, tough circumstances - stand strong, and I appreciate that in a person."