On Friday 2nd July CIRCA, the Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army, took to the streets of Leeds to poke some fun at the ridiclous so-called hand over of power to Iraq. The first stop was the office of Labour MP Hillary Benn — Minister for overseas development.

Unfortunately Mr Benn was not in his office and so after 15 minutes on the stairs below his office the insurgent clowns set up a 'clown checkpoint' outside the building.

After that the rebel army had some lunch and then dispersed only to regroup sometime later at the recruitment centre for the air force, army and navy. About half the clowns set up their own recruitment table outside centre whilst the other half went inside to volunteer to join up. Those inside showed off their skills with the feather duster rifles, dogfighting with sherbet filled plastic aeroplanes and the firing of balloon propelled rockets. But the army were not overly impressed with their skillful display and so they called in the police for help. After while the clowns went outside to work on their own recruitment stall. The competition was obviously too much for the real army and so recruitment centre was closed for the rest of the day.

Two days later the clandestine army reappeared this time on the annual 'Independence from America' day at the illegal US listening base at Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire. Here the clowns used a combination of foolishness, mockery, mirth and love to lighten the atmosphere of the over-policed demonstration and provided, what one person said was, the 'highlight of the day'.

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