Hyderabad, Jan 24 (IANS): The Communist Party of India (CPI) Saturday staged a protest near the United States consulate here against President Barack Obama's visit to India.

As part of the nation-wide protest called by the Left parties, the leaders and activists of the CPI tried to march towards the consulate in Begumpet.

As the police stopped them from heading towards the consulate building, the activists sat on the road. They raised slogans such as "Obama go back" and "Halt US aggression". They also held placards carrying messages like "Stop interference in India's domestic matters" and "Stop US-India strategic collaboration".

Party leaders K. Narayana and G. Mallesh led the protest. Police took them (protestors) away to the nearest police station.

Six Left parties - the CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML)-Liberation, All India Forward Block, Students Unity Centre of India SUCI(C) and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) - called for 'dharnas' (sit-ins) and meetings in different parts of the country Saturday to protest Obama's visit beginning Sunday.

"It is a supreme irony that the day which symbolises India's independence and sovereignty is being graced by the head of a country, which has done the most to assault and destroy the sovereignty of many countries around the world," said a joint statement by the six parties.