SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - About 300 Chileans have stripped naked to protest a war on Iraq, demanding President Ricardo Lagos vote against the United States in the U.N. Security Council.

In a park area cordoned off by police, a mostly young crowd of bare-bottomed men and women jumped up and down and shouted "No to war. Yes to peace," on Saturday then held up their hands and sang popular Latin American protest songs.

"Lagos, Cut the crap. Chile says no to war," said a large red banner.

Chile, one of six "swing votes" on the Security Council, is undecided on whether to support a draft resolution backed by the United States and Britain that would authorise military action against Iraq, which Washington suspects of hiding weapons of mass destruction.

A nude peace activist holds a Chilean flag with the writing "No to war," as others stand by during a protest in downtown Santiago, March 1, 2003. Some 100 peace activists stripped for peace and against a possible U.S.-led attack against Iraq. REUTERS