Oscars will go on despite war

Armed federal agents will mingle with the stars as security is tightened at the Oscars on Sunday.

Officials for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences pledged that the show will still go on if the war against Iraq has started.

The Kodak Theatre and shopping complex in Hollywood, where the Oscars are being held, has been turned into a fortress, with private security linking with police, FBI agents and soldiers.

There will be sharpshooters on surrounding rooftops.

Academy Awards officials have also canceled the "red carpet" entrance of the stars.

Oscar telecast producer Gil Cates told a press conference the red carpet would be canceled because celebrities complained that they felt uncomfortable talking "business as usual" and posing for photographs in the face of a possible U.S. war with Iraq.

Cates also said the show would be delayed if ABC preempted it to broadcast war coverage. But he added, "If you are a betting man, the show will go on."

Some stars and guests attending the 75th Academy Awards also plan to ditch their glamorous gowns to 'dress down to reflect the sombre times'.

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