Some 2,000 people protested against the possible stationing of a U.S. radar base on Czech territory in the center of Prague on the occasion of U.S. President George W. Bush's arrival in Prague on Monday.

The demonstration was organized by the No To Bases group. Another group of people who protested against the radar base outside the U.S. embassy earlier this afternoon joined the demonstration later. The protest outside the U.S. embassy was organized by the Communist Youth (KSM) and the Communist Party.

The participants chanted slogans such as "Say No to War, Say No to Radar" and delivered speeches.

"We are here to protest against the building of U.S. radar base in the Czech republic, against the policies of the American government on this issue, against the position of the Czech cabinet on the base," one of the organizers, KSM chairman Milan Krajca told Xinhua.

According to Krajca, his group has gathered 111,000 signatures under a petition against the radar base.

Former Czech foreign minister Jan Kavan said at the site of the demonstration that Bush's visit will not benefit the economy as well as security of the Czech republic.

Bush arrived in Prague for a two-day working visit at late evening hours on Monday.

Bush, who pays a two-day visit to Prague on 4th and 5th June, will mainly discuss the planned stationing of the U.S. radar base on Czech territory with the Czech leaders.

The United States. made a formal request in January to place a radar base in the Brdy military area southwest of Prague and 10 interceptor missiles in neighboring Poland as part of a planned global missile defense shield.

More than 60 percent of Czechs opposed the U.S. radar base. The plan is also opposed by municipalities in the surroundings of the military district Brdy where the base is to be built.