Tommy Sheridan is confident about the election

Mr Sheridan spoken out against the "unleashing of mass murder on the innocent civilians of Iraq" when he addressed his party's annual conference in Glasgow.

The SSP leader said that it would make no difference to the people of Iraq whether the attack on their country was sanctioned by the UN or not.

Mr Sheridan also predicted "spectacular" election gains to give his party eight Holyrood seats in May.

Genuine alternative

He forecast widespread support from voters who want "an honest, principled and visionary party" in the parliamentary elections.

In a prediction for the 1 May poll, Mr Sheridan told his annual party conference the Socialists offer the electorate a genuine alternative to Labour.

The party has published six pledges which form part of its election manifesto.

"All the indications are that the SSP is on the brink of a spectacular electoral breakthrough, delivering at least four MSPs and even as many as eight," Mr Sheridan told delegates.

"They will all accept the average wage of a skilled worker in Scotland in opposition to the current parliamentary wages system, which considers an MSP as more than twice the value of a firefighter and four times more than a hospital ancillary worker."

In his conference speech, Mr Sheridan portrayed his party as Scotland's "anti-war and pro-war party" - in favour of peace and disarmament, but also in favour of a war on poverty.

The war we intend to lead is against the poverty and inequality which shames our nation Tommy Sheridan, SSP leader

"The case for unleashing hell on ordinary Iraqi civilians has simply not been made," he will say.

"We will oppose waging war on Iraq, regardless of how many UN Security Council countries are bribed and bullied into line."

He also declared a war on poverty by saying: "The war we intend to lead is against the poverty and inequality which shames our nation.

"One in four of our pensioners are officially poor, while one in three Scottish children are brought up in poverty yet Scotland is rich in oil, gas and electricity and financial resources.

"The SSP is the party of public ownership and the party of trade union rights, the party of wealth redistribution and the party of peace."

The party's manifesto pledges are:

• Abolish council tax in favour of Scottish Service Tax based on income

• Free school meals for every state school pupil

• A minimum wage of �7.32 for all public sector workers

• A 35-hour maximum working week across the public sector

• End PFI and clear private finance from Scotland's public services

• Oppose and obstruct any war for oil.