About 200 protesters, many aligned with Communists, waved flags and chanted slogans in front of the U.S. Embassy Monday evening to protest President George W. Bush's scheduled visit to Prague and American plans to build a radar base.

Earlier in the day, protesters promised mass demonstrations in three locations around the city, including Wenceslas Square, which saw about 2,000 radar base protesters Saturday.

Those in the crowd said they had gathered more than 100,000 signatures calling for a referendum on a radar base Bush wants to build west of the capital.

“I am not here because I am a communist voter or anything like that,” said demonstrator Pavel Bácha. “I am not against the U.S. as a whole, I just detest what Mr. Bush is doing.”

Five police stood in front of the embassy and two ambulances were parked nearby. The crowd marched toward the Prague Castle, where they were to join others in a larger rally.

The U.S. Embassy consular section and its American Center are currently closed through Thursday morning, according to the embassy's Web site.

Monday evening, with the U.S. president's arrival pending, the No to Bases coalition, which organized the demonstrations, was planning to ramp up its rallies for the June 4–5 Bush visit.

“We believe at least 10,000 people will attend the June demonstrations,” said Jan Tamáš, spokesman for No to Bases.

During his trip to Prague, Bush is expected to take part in talks with officials about the installation of a radar base in central Bohemia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has vehemently opposed the system, saying it is aimed at Moscow and will spark a new arms race. He told the Italian press on Monday that if the U.S. base is built here, Russia will point missiles at the Czech Republic.

Many protesters voiced concern over the Russian response, and fear the radar base could be targeted in a conflict with Iran or North Korea. “I’m afraid we won’t be safe here,” said protestor Simona Linhartová. “One Cold War finished recently; another one is about to start.”

The countdown to Bush’s brief visit has spurred those planning protests to register with City Hall, a procedure required by law.

Protests stretching from morning to night are expected this evening for Pohořelec, Wenceslas Square and Hradčanské náměstí. Similar daylong protests against U.S. foreign policy will likely crowd the same locations the following day.

Milan Krajča, chairman of the Communist Youth Union, says Bush’s visit mainly presents an opportunity to speak out against the radar base. Still, the protests will express dissatisfaction with the Bush administration on other hot-button foreign policy issues. “The Bush government and policy [represent] the war against Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries,” Krajča says.

The Communist Youth Union has registered to demonstrate in front of the U.S. Embassy in Malá Strana June 5, but may change their plans depending on the president’s itinerary. Protestors may register and modify plans up to five days before their demonstrations, he says.

Indeed, as a measure of the high level of security surrounding the visit, details about Bush’s itinerary have been cloaked in secrecy. The U.S. Embassy would not release any information, while Prague Castle spokesman Petr Hájek refused to comment.

The Prague Hilton is reportedly the base of operations for the hundreds-strong delegation traveling with Bush.

At an as-yet undisclosed time June 5, Bush and his delegation will hold a press conference at Prague Castle. At 4 p.m., he will deliver an address on the subject of democracy and security at a conference organized by the Prague Security Studies Institute. The delegation is expected to leave the capital that evening.

David Kubalák, Police Presidium spokesman, said May 29 that tight security measures are already being discussed with the Americans. “There will be several hundred patrolling policemen” while riot police will assist too, he said. Other police directorates outside Prague will also send reinforcements.

Police will protect the president and his delegation, as well as control protests and traffic. “Prague Castle and the area around will be closed off,” Kubalák says. “There will be some short-term road enclosures to enable [the delegation] to pass.”

Given the thousands of protestors, delegates, journalists and security forces expected, Prague’s streets will no doubt be jammed. Krajča welcomes this disruption. “We have to use this opportunity to show our position.”