PROTESTERS OUT IN FORCE BEFORE BOMBS BEGIN TO FALL.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

Los Angeles girded Wednesday against a potential terrorist attack as residents and religious leaders prayed that no harm would befall civilians and American troops at war in Iraq.

Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn reassured residents that the city was not a known terrorist target and that authorities had taken every precaution to safeguard Los Angeles International Airport. Police conducted random vehicles searches, and uniformed and undercover patrols were increased, with the use of bomb-sniffing dogs. Checkpoints were set up at airport entrances Wednesday night.

``We have heightened security measures in order to protect the safety and security of guests who come here to LAX,'' said Hahn, who toured the airport with Transportation Security Director David Stone.

Hahn also toured the city's newly opened Emergency Operations Center, saying ``the show should go on'' at Sunday's Oscar's night in Hollywood.

Following the city's lead, Los Angeles County and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority activated emergency operations centers to direct services in the wake of a possible terrorist attack.

Early in the day, before for U.S. bombs began to fall on Iraq, baton- wielding LAPD officers faced off with an estimated 300 anti-war demonstrators on Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood.

Police arrested 40 people for refusing to clear the street. At one point, officers allegedly hit three protesters with clubs, while one officer swung at a woman trying to photograph his badge.

Chief William Bratton ordered the LAPD's Internal Affairs Division to investigate the use of force.

Lt. Horace Frank, the lead spokesman for the LAPD, said he was disturbed by TV footage of the clash.

``What we see on the tape is very disturbing, but we have to do a complete investigation,'' he said. ``The chief has expressed great concern in the matter.''

Several blocks away, a dozen British citizens demonstrated before the British consulate as protests broke out from Fresno to San Francisco.

In a plea for tolerance, Cardinal Roger Mahony and other religious leaders joined City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and City Councilman Jack Weiss during a press conference to urge Angelenos not to use the war as an excuse to engage in hate crimes.

``America is at war with a rogue terrorist state, not with a religion or particular ethnic group,'' said Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. ``It is not against Islam that this war will be waged.''

``There will be no tolerance of hate crimes,'' said Delgadillo, who vowed to prosecute those who threaten or harm a person because of his or her religion, ethnicity or nationality.

Muslims, Jews and Christians were unanimous in their call for a speedy resolution to the fighting.

``We hope the mission is executed swiftly and ends very soon,'' said Sireen Sawaf, a spokeswoman for the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los Angeles. ``We're praying for the safe return of American (service) men and women, as well as the safety of the innocent Iraqi people.''

Said John Fishel, president of The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles: ``We think its important we support the American government and pull together.''

Northridge United Methodist Church opened its sanctuary at 5 p.m. for a candlelit prayer service.

``My prayers are for peace, and for the wisdom that will bring our loved ones home,'' said the Rev. Sandy Liddell of United Methodist. ``Prayers for God's children - all of God's children - prayers for those in harm's way, prayer for forbearance and prayers for national leaders.

``God is gracious.''

A small anti-war protest at the corner of Laurel Canyon and Ventura boulevards was greeted by residents honking their horns in approval of the protesters.

``We're just out here to state that, just because we are going to war, that doesn't mean we should put the signs away,'' said North Hollywood resident Steve Fine at the protest Wednesday evening. ``Tonight is our transition phase. We're shifting from a prewar protest to a war protest.''

Martha Stevens of Studio City said she felt the U.S. was giving itself a bad name with this war and said that inspections for weapons of mass destruction should have been allowed to continue.

``I don't think it's our business to go in and change someone else's government, even if it is an awful government,'' said Stevens, while holding a sign reading ``No Iraq War.''

``We're turning into big bullies,'' she said.

City and county officials also continued their preparations for the event of a chemical or bioterrorist attack.

``While bioterrorism was the first area of terrorism concern, we are taking an approach that prepares us for all hazards, either a dirty bomb, chemical attack, biological attack or some other kind of attack,'' said Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, chief health officer for the county.

Elsa Lee, a former counterterrorism expert with the Army who now consults with the Pentagon, law enforcement agencies and major Los Angeles businesses, said the city is well prepared in the event of an attack.

``I think that we're more prepared in L.A. than in many places in the United States,'' said Lee, founder of Advantage SCI in Redondo Beach.

LAPD officials said they received 900 calls on Wednesday alone to an anonymous tip line, [phone] (1-877-A-THREAT), set up to report suspicious activity. Another line, [phone] (1-877-LA-CARES), has been set up to field hate crime tips.

Staff Writers Troy Anderson, Mariel Garza, Jason Kandel, Ryan Oliver, Harrison Sheppard and City News Service contributed to this report.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Police at Los Angeles International Airport conduct a search of a car at one of the checkpoints set up Wednesday.

(2) Actress Lisa Bonet (``The Cosby Show'') marches down Sepulveda Boulevard with members of Code Pink on Wednesday morning to protest the Iraqi war.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer