In the United States, the Republican Party has kicked off its national convention in New York amid tight security and massive anti-war demonstrations.

Thousands of party faithful gathered in New York's famed Madison Square Garden Tuesday to start a four-day gala that will culminate on Thursday with the official nomination of incumbent President George W. Bush to a second term in office.

On the opening day of the convention, former New York Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, and maverick Senator John McCain will address the convention. In prepared speeches released earlier, they heaped praises on Bush, depicting him as a steady, decisive leader in an age of terrorism.

Earlier on Sunday, hundreds of thousands of people rallied in the city to protest against the Iraq war and Bush's domestic policies. About 100 arrests were reported, but officials said the protests were mainly peaceful and orderly.

Meanwhile, recent polls showed that Bush, who had been lagging behind his Democratic competitor John Kerry, is ahead in the race by a slight margin.

Analysts attributed Bush's slight lead in the polls to his campaign's efforts to highlight the president's endeavor to combat terrorism and a recent spate of ads attacking the validity of some of Kerry's Vietnam War decorations.