*Ø* US-EU Summit: Ireland is not smiling

"DUBLIN, Ireland (Reuters) -- U.S. President George W. Bush's trip to Ireland for a European Union and U.S. summit is expected to draw thousands of protesters who oppose the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq in a country where U.S. presidents are traditionally feted.

"Ireland is deploying more than 6,000 police and troops to protect Bush and EU leaders at the summit in one of the biggest security operations Ireland has staged ...

"'We expect large numbers to attend the anti-Bush protests in County Clare,' said Fintan Lane, an organizer of Anti-War Ireland, an alliance of protest groups. 'We want him to return home with a clear understanding of the depth of Irish opposition to his warmongering.'

"The mayor of Dublin, Michael Conaghan of the leftist Labour Party, has said he will join the protests.

"Protesters are angry not only at U.S. policy in Iraq but at a decision by Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and the government of neutral Ireland to allow U.S. jets to refuel at Shannon en route to the Middle East.

"Organizers say 50,000 protesters are expected in Dublin and some 10,000 in Shannon.

Troops, police on guard

"Bush flies in to Shannon airport in County Clare, southwest Ireland, on Friday night.

"He meets Ahern, European Commission President Romano Prodi and EU security chief Javier Solana at Dromoland Castle on Saturday before leaving for a NATO summit in Turkey."

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