Defence show faces fresh assault

Reed Elsevier, organiser of the world's largest defence and arms exhibition, is bracing itself for a fresh dose of negative publicity this week as interest groups plot an onslaught of protests at the Defence Systems & Equipment International.

The arms fair, which begins tomorrow in east London, has long been a sore spot for the FTSE 100 publishing group. Earlier this year the company said it would sell its defence exhibition unit in response to concerns raised not just by peace campaigners but by some of the academics who write in its journals.

The anti-arms group CAAT, which is lobbying for an end to the fair altogether, has organised a march tomorrow on the Excel centre, where the fair is held. Other groups will also taking part in an array of what they say will be peaceful demonstrations. The Christian groups Fellowship of Reconciliation and Pax Christi will protest. A group called Disarm DSEi goads supporters in a message on its website to "Come by bus. Come by DLR. Come by bike. Come by foot. Come by tank. Get to Custom House. Invade ExCeL. Shut down the arms fair."

DSEi attracts arms buyers and sellers from 20 countries, and is expected to lure more than 25,000 visitors. This year it will be showcasing the wares of 1,352 exhibitors, 20 per cent more than that last show in 2005.

CAAT's Symon Hill said the group would like to see the tax dollars used by the Government to buy arms to be invested instead in retraining for workers in the industry.

A DSEi spokesman said that defence and defence-related industries were important to the UK economy, employing more than 300,000 people. "This is the premier exhibition of its kind in the world, and the UK can be justifiably proud that so many countries feel comfortable coming here for it," he said.

In July Gordon Brown announced the closure of the Government's Defence Export Service Organisation, the body that helps to organise the show.