According to Reuters - Bruce Springsteen delivered forthright criticism of the administration of President Bush on the final leg of his worldwide "The Rising" tour on a political in New York, where the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks provided inspiration for his latest songs. In the first of the final three shows at Shea Stadium on Wednesday night, a recording was played of Bush talking about weapons of mass destruction, Springsteen questioned America's motives for the war in Iraq and called for Bush's defeat as he seeks re-election next year.

"It is time to impeach the president and put in somebody that knows what they're doing," 'The Boss' told the crowd. Before delivering 'Born in the U.S.A.', he said: "The question of whether we were misled into the war in Iraq isn't a liberal or conservative or Republican or Democratic question, it's an American one. Demanding accountability from our leaders is our responsibility, our job as citizens," he said.

There was mixed reaction to his message amongst 50,000 people in the vast open-air baseball stadium. The believers applauded even more, while others seemed more casual in their response.

Springsteen and the E Street Band started out on 'The Rising' tour in the summer of 2002, playing the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia and selling more than 3 million tickets. In tribute to New York and the World Trade Centre victims, they opened with 'Souls of the Departed' and the title song from 'The Rising', a collection of songs inspired by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, before launching into a string of Springsteen standards, closing the three-hour show with 'Dancing in the Dark'.

We went to press before the Friday and Saturday shows and will report any further reactions to Government criticism next time round..