Hollywood heavyweights Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon are on hunger strike.
The star pair are staging the protest in support of anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, whose son Casey was killed in Iraq in 2004.
At a press conference conducted in front of the White House, in Washington, Sheehan said: "Everything we do is to get the troops to come home.
"We want to show the world that there are Americans who are committed to peace. Fasting is such a time-honoured way of protest."
Campaigner Sheehan will live on a diet of water, teas and juices until September 21 - International Peace Day.
Penn, Sarandon and a host of other stars, including 'Lethal Weapon' actor Danny Glover and country music legend Willie Nelson, will take it in turns to abstain from food on set days in a "rolling programme" of fasts.
(C) BANG Media International
