An environmental campaigner has failed to make a citizen's arrest of the former US ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton.

The environmental campaigner, George Monbiot, who failed in his attempt at the Hay Festival on Wednesday, said he would continue his efforts to serve arrest paper on politicians involved in the decision to go to war in Iraq.

Monbiot was dragged away by security officers as he tried to approach Bolton, who was to talk on international relations.

Some 20 demonstrators chanted slogans against Bolton and labeled him as a "war criminal" and waved placards out of the tent.

Monbiot, who is a leading environmental and anti-war campaigner and journalist said: "I'm aware that I've made what I believe is the first attempt ever to arrest one of the perpetrators of the Iraq War, and I believe that is a precedent and I would like to see that precedent followed up."

In his earlier discussion Bolton defended the right of the US to launch pre-emptive nuclear attacks and to promote regime change or -if necessary- a military attack against Iran.

MSM/MMN