A student who said he was prepared to act as a human shield in Iraq will be campaigning against war at home instead after he was refused a visa.

Matt Barr, 21, of Lewes Road, Brighton is part of the international Voices In The Wilderness group, one of the organisations behind the huge anti-war rally in London two weeks ago.

He had planned to go to Baghdad as part of a peace mission, staying with Iraqi families and putting himself in the line of fire in any outbreak of war.

But Matt said: "The Iraqi authorities are clamping down on visas and are not allowing any foreign nationals into the country while it is on a war footing. I tried to get a visa but there were enormous problems.

"I believe I can be far more effective focusing on the anti-war effort at home This is not a cop-out. I believe it is vital the general public in Britain know about the consequences of an attack against Iraq and the deaths, especially to young children, it will bring."