Oscars muted by war

Hollywood came out against war with Iraq last night as the stars used the Oscars as a platform to plead for peace.

One after another, the winners took to the stage and appealed for an end to the conflict.

Best actress Nicole Kidman expressed sympathy for families who have lost loved ones in the war, while Bowling For Columbine director Michael Moore launched a scathing attack on US President George W Bush.

"We live in a time where we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons. Whether it is the fiction of duct tape or the fiction of orange alerts, we are against this war, Mr. Bush. Shame on you, Mr. Bush!," shouted Moore, wagging his finger to a mixed reception of boos and cheers from the celebrity audience.

His outburst shattered the restraint that had marked the Oscar ceremony where stars such as Colin Farrell, Salma Hayek and Julianne Moore wore discreet peace pins or peace doves on their gowns and tuxedos but otherwise kept their opinions largely to themselves.

Hollywood's anti-war message

Some of Hollywood's most strident anti-war campaigners, including Barbra Streisand, Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere prompted surprise by sticking to the official Oscar script.

But Adrien Brody, while overcome with joy at his surprise best actor win for the holocaust drama "The Pianist", said he was also filled with sadness.

"My experience in making this film made me very aware of the sadness and the dehumanization of people at times of war and the repercussions of war.

"Whether you believe in God or Allah, may he watch over you and let's pray for a peaceful and swift resolution," Brody said to warm applause.

Security at the event

Organisers had scaled back the event, believing the usual glitz and glamour would be inappropriate.

The traditional walk down the red carpet was scrapped and instead the stars were ferried straight to the door of Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.

Security for the event was unprecedented with the National Guard drafted in and police marksmen on stand-by. Thousands of anti-war protesters had gathered outside the theatre along with several hundred pro-war demonstrators.

A handful of celebrities, including Will Smith, Cate Blanchett and Jim Carrey, chose to stay away.

Others, such as Daniel Day-Lewis, Susan Sarandon, Adrien Brody and Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, wore peace pins to register their protest against the war.

In keeping with the muted atmosphere, actresses including Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Connelly opted to wear simple black dresses.

Adrien Brody

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