Anti-war protesters repeatedly interrupted US President George W. Bush's Independence Day speech Friday in Charlottesville, Virginia, ABC News reported.

As Bush started speaking at the naturalization ceremony welcoming new citizens at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, one of the country's Founding Fathers, a group of anti-war protesters began shouting at him, calling him a "war criminal".

The president paused in his remarks and then responded, "To my fellow citizens, we believe in free speech in the United States of America."

One woman moved towards the stage before being stopped by security, but other protesters still made their voices heard.

Only minutes later, another protester shouted expletives at Bush, while still another called him "a fascist".

By the time Bush finished his 10-minute remarks, at least nine protesters had been taken away from the event by police.

In the speech, there is no word on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he only thanked US troops for their service to the nation.

In the afternoon, Bush returned to the White House to celebrate Independence Day, a holiday which falls right at the start of his birthday weekend. Bush turns 62 on Sunday.

(Xinhua News Agency July 5, 2008)