A PEACE protester who has been camped outside the Houses of Parliament for the past 9 years has been charged with obstructing the police.

Woodford Green-born Brian Haw, 61, was arrested in Parliament Square at around 8am yesterday near his makeshift tent home, during protests against the Queen's Speech which was delivered in the House of Lords later that day.

The Guardian has not been able to contact father-of-seven Mr Haw since his arrest.

Fellow protester Barbara Tucker, 48, of no fixed abode, has been charged with a public order offence and obstructing police.

They were both scheduled to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court at 10am this morning (Wednesday 26 May).

Mr Haw began his protest on June 2 2001 in protest against the UK's foreign policy in Iraq.