AN ELDERLY man claims that he suffered a broken nose and wrist and a cut face when he was attacked after refusing to accept an election leaflet from supporters of George Galloway’s Respect party.

Police said last night that they were investigating the reported attack on Les Dobrovolski, 70, in Spitalfields, East London, a week ago.

Mr Dobrovolski said that he refused to accept a leaflet from two young men campaigning for Mr Galloway, who is challenging Labour’s Oona King in Bethnal Green & Bow in a contest dominated by the Iraq war. After saying that he would never vote for Mr Galloway, Mr Dobrovolski said he was followed and pushed to the ground by a man who then stamped on his hand.

Mr Dobrovolski, who is a Labour Party member, was treated in hospital for his injuries. The alleged incident comes after violent attacks on Ms King and Mr Galloway.

Ms King called for an end to bully-boy tactics. She added: “A terrible force has been let loose by the poisonous atmosphere of this campaign, an atmosphere for which Respect is at least partly responsible.”

A spokesman for Respect said he was deeply suspicious that it had taken a week for the alleged assault to become public. “All our canvassers are counselled never to get involved, not even to raise their voices,” he said. “If someone has been assaulted it is to be utterly deplored.”

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