The Australian Prime Minister John Howard has been accused of attempting to quash debate on military action against Iraq after he attacked peace demonstrators for "giving comfort" to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Mr Howard lashed out after anti-war demonstrations last weekend attracted hundreds of thousands of demonstrators around Australia and millions worldwide.
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Australian Prime Minister John Howard
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"I do know also that demonstrations do give comfort to the Iraqi leadership, there's no doubt about that," he said.
"People who demonstrate and give comfort to Saddam Hussein must understand and must realise that it's a factor in making it that much more difficult to get united world opinion on this issue, which in the end is the best guarantee of finding a peaceful solution."
Opposition leader Mr Simon Crean said Howard's comments were disgraceful and showed he was out of touch with ordinary Australians.
"The Prime Minister is questioning the loyalty of more than a half a million mums and dads who marched for peace around Australia last weekend," he said.
Mr Howard and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have been US President George Bush's most vocal international supporters and the only leaders to commit troops to the Gulf for possible military action against Iraq.
Greens leader Mr Bob Brown claimed Mr Howard had now "adopted the Bush doctrine - you're with me or against me" while Australian Democrats leader Mr Andrew Bartlett said he had vilified people for exercising their democratic rights.
"It's ridiculous to say that being anti-war equates with being pro-Saddam," he said.
"Mr Howard's idea of unity is everyone agreeing with him and his logic that people who call for peace make it harder to achieve peace won't wash."
Opinion polls show only six per cent of Australians support war against Iraq without United Nations backing and one in three oppose war under any circumstances.
AFP