OTTAWA — Thousands of demonstrators protested President Bush's visit Tuesday, but Bush, eager to patch up relations with the northern neighbor, said he felt he'd received a friendly welcome.

"I frankly felt like the reception we received on the way in from the airport was very warm and hospitable, and I want to thank the Canadian people who came out to wave — with all five fingers," Bush said with a smile.

Prime Minister Paul Martin played along.

"I know what you mean, Mr. President," he told reporters at a joint news conference. "I mentioned to the press that was with us in Chile that I found that Spanish and English and French are three different languages but that sign language is universal."

Antiwar demonstrators from Toronto, who joined thousands of people gathered here to protest Bush's official visit to Canada, rolled out an "unwelcome mat" — a giant carpet-turned-protest sign.

"Over 100,000 people have been killed so far by the invasion and occupation of Iraq," said Dylan Penner, a leader of the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War. "War criminals like Bush aren't welcome here."

Some opponents along Bush's motorcade route from the airport to downtown were polite. One sign said "Please Leave."

The crowd near Parliament Hill, though, minced no words in expressing their opposition to Bush's presidency. Police in riot gear heavily guarded buildings the president visited downtown.

Several dozen people held placards that branded Bush an "assassin." A truck parked near the motorcade route was emblazoned with the phrase "Bush is a war criminal." A sign, depicting Bush riding a missile marked with a swastika, read "Go Home (expletive)!"

"Canada is not against America," said protester Fredric White, 40, who works for an entertainment company. "We're totally against Bush. He's arrogant and ignorant. We totally disdain his policies on the war and his treatment of the U.N. The administration has an imperialist attitude where he thinks he can take over countries by bombing them.

"He's courageous to come here because we can't stand him."

Perhaps fittingly, from the perspective of demonstrators, Bush entered a Parliament building for his meeting with Martin through a 302-foot campanile called the Peace Tower.

Associated Press Writer Colin McClelland in Ottawa contributed to this report.