The chairman of the Irish Anti-War Movement has rejected claims by the Tanaiste, Ms Mary Harney, that anti-war protestors are anti-American.
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin this morning, ahead of the weekend protest against the use of Shannon airport for military purposes, Mr Boyd Barrett denounced the claims as "downright lies".
"The Irish Anti-War Movement stands in solidarity with the US anti-war movement. At every rally we've staged we've had US citizens as speakers. The government should retract these slanderous allegations," he stated.
Mr Boyd Barrett was addressing a statement made by the Tanaiste, Ms Mary Harney, who last Friday claimed that people working to promote anti-Americanism in Ireland were doing so "on the back of peaceful protest and humanitarian concerns".
He also responded to what he claimed was a "deliberate lie" on the part of Minister for Justice, Mr Michael McDowell.
"The Minister has wrongly alleged at the Irish Anti-War Movement is pro-Saddam Hussein. We have consistently branded Hussein a dictator," he stated.
"If Mr McDowell is concerned about pro-Saddam feelings, he should address the Taoiseach and his Fianna Fáil colleagues who provided export credit insurance for dealings with Iraq in the 1980s," he added.
The meeting was attended by a number of party representatives - Labour's Mr Michael D. Higgins, the Green Party's Ms Patricia McKenna, Sinn Fein's Mr Aonghus O'Snodaigh and the Workers' Party's Mr Joe Higgins.
Mr Higgins dismissed Mr McDowell's comments and cited what he termed was "the Progressive Democrats' singular ignorance of international affairs".
"The fact is that Mr Dowell remains silent on whether it is legally or morally right to make a pre-emptive strike. We've had no opinion, but plenty of insight, much of it McCarthyite in flavour," the Labour spokesman said.
Saturday's protest has been organised by the Irish Anti-War Movement, who were reluctant to give an exact estimate of turnout.
"We are expecting several thousand people. This will be the biggest demonstration at Shannon to date," Mr Boyd Barrett claimed.
Protesters are set to assemble in Shannon town centre at 2 p.m., and march to Shannon airport. In Dublin, a candlelight vigil will be held at 1 p.m. at the Department of Foreign Affairs on St Stephen's Green.