ABOUT 50 police were needed early this morning to remove placards from peace protester Brian Haw's vigil outside Parliament.

At 2.45am, police removed almost all of his personal possessions and left him with only one placard.

The 56-year-old said he would now fast in protest at the action.

Earlier this month, the Government won an appeal against a legal ruling that allowed Mr Haw to continue his protest. The ruling meant Mr Haw is now technically breaking the law by continuing his anti-war demonstration.

Three of Mr Haw's supporters were arrested. They are being held at Charing Cross Police Station.

Mr Haw told the BBC: "It seems I am going to die in this place now because I'm going to be fasting and praying.

"They have completely destroyed all the expressions of people who opposed the war in Iraq. What gives them the legal right to remove 40 metres of evidence of genocide and reduce it to just three metres?"

Mr Haw's demonstration began in 2001 when he was protesting against western sanctions on Iraq. The protest took on an anti-war stance when Britain joined US-led operations first in Afghanistan then in Iraq.

Legislation was introduced in 2005 specifically targeting Mr Haw's protest and attempting to put an end to it.

The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act says that anyone wishing to protest in a 1km zone around Parliament Square must first gain permission from the police.

Mr Haw will appear in court next Tuesday to face allegations the he failed to comply with the conditions the police set on his demonstration.