British fathers' rights protesters stage demonstration on senior lawmaker's roof

The two men, dressed in superhero costumes, clambered on to the rooftops of the home of Harriet Harman, the deputy leader of Britain's governing Labour party.

Protest group Fathers 4 Justice said on Sunday the men were activists Mark Harris and Jolly Stanesby, both from the city of Plymouth in southwestern England.

The protest group campaigns for reform of family laws and greater access rights for fathers who are living apart from their children.

Group founder Matt O'Connor said the protest had taken place because Harman and Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government had ended dialogue with the group over the past two years.

"We are now resuming a full-scale campaign of direct action against the government, its ministers and the judiciary. F4J is now the last line in the defense of fatherhood," O'Connor said a statement.

The group has staged numerous high-profile demonstrations, including scaling Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey to hold protests.

In 2004, fathers' rights campaigners caused panic in the House of Commons chamber when they hurled purple powder at then-Prime Minister Tony Blair from the public gallery.

London's Metropolitan police said it could not confirm whether Harman was present at her home, in the Herne Hill district of south London.

"Officers are currently in attendance at the location and are speaking to the men," said a police spokesman, on customary condition of anonymity in line with policy.

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