TAS: Hunger strike over for Tasmanian teenager
HOBART, April 2 AAP - A Tasmanian teenager today completed a week-long hunger striketo protest against the war in Iraq.
As Prime Minister John Howard talked up Australia's involvement in the conflict ata business breakfast in Hobart, Matthew Hardy counted down the hours to end his self-imposedfamine at 1pm (AEST) today.
After a week existing on water, sports drinks and a few barley sugars, he celebratedwith supporters with an on-the-house meal at a pizza restaurant in Burnie, in the state'snorth-west.
Relieved mother Grace said Matthew was very tired, but otherwise fine.
"He looks quite gaunt but he's okay," she said this afternoon.
"We're just glad it's over.
"He's collapsed across his bed, sound asleep."
To attract maximum public attention, Matthew has conducted his strike outside a shoppingcentre in the main street of Burnie.
Fielding calls from media nationwide on a mobile phone, the secondary college studentalso gathered about 500 signatures on a petition against Australia's involvement in theIraqi conflict.
AAP las/cjh/jlw
KEYWORD: IRAQ HUNGER
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