A New York criminal court acquitted yesterday 18 anti-war activists who call themselves the Granny Peace Brigade of disorderly conduct for staging a rally outside a Times Square military recruiting center last year.

The verdict was rendered by Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Neil Ross following a seven-day non jury trial.

Noting his verdict was not a commentary on any police action, Judge Ross said the evidence before him showed there was no blockage of pedestrian traffic and anyone who wanted to enter the recruiting center could do so.

He said the prosecution "failed to prove each defendant guilty of each charge. Therefore, I find the defendants not guilty."

His ruling sent the packed courtroom into applause. Lead defense lawyer Norman Siegel said he was extremely pleased, calling his clients "great Americans," who walk the shoes of great Americans who have made America the place that it is.

Each of the defendants, most of them grandmothers with several in their 80s and 90s and supporting themselves on canes, had been charged with two counts of disorderly conduct in last October's protest against the war in Iraq.

Each of the women, many bearing photos of their grandchildren, testified during the trial. During the trial, prosecutors said the defendants had prevented others from entering the recruiting center.

They called three police officers as witnesses. All testified that the protesters refused to move when officers told them to disperse and that the demonstrators were polite and orderly.