The protesters want to be able to march past the gates of Gleneagles

G8 Alternatives wants its members to be allowed to walk past the Perthshire hotel's gates on 6 July.

On Tuesday, Holyrood's Public Petitions Committee supported their right to protest and agreed to send the request on to the first minister.

The police and Perth and Kinross Council previously told the group it can only walk as far as Auchterarder.

The issue came before the committee after the Scottish Human Rights Centre wrote urging it to back the G8 Alternatives' plan.

From what the council is telling us the decision now rests with Jack McConnell Gill Hubbard G8 Alternatives

Committee convener Michael McMahon said Jack McConnell had indicated he intended "to give a positive response" to the petition, along with another calling on him to lobby the G8 leaders to act on global poverty.

Mr McMahon said that because of the likely delay in getting the petition to the Scottish Executive leader ahead of next week's summit Mr McConnell's office had contacted him to outline his stance on the issue.

A spokeswoman for the first minister said he had always supported the right to protest and was likely to respond to the petition by First Minister's Questions on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Perth & Kinross Council proposed another route to the protesters.

Protesters demonstrated outside Tayside Police HQ last weekend

The move followed talks with police on Monday night and is believed to be the closest the local authority is in a position to offer.

Gill Hubbard, of G8 Alternatives, said the route offered - from Tullibardine to Auchterarder - was "miles away" and the protestors still wanted to pass the hotel on the A823.

However, she welcomed the committee's endorsement and added: "From what the council is telling us the decision now rests with Jack McConnell."

G8 Alternatives held a protest outside Tayside Police headquarters in Dundee on Saturday demanding the right to demonstrate at Gleneagles.