EDDIE BARNES
POLITICAL EDITOR

PLANS to mobilise hundreds of thousands more protesters in every city in Scotland have been drawn up, spreading the risk of chaos during next month's G8 summit nationwide.

Following Sir Bob Geldof's surprise call last week for one million people to descend on Edinburgh, Scotland on Sunday can reveal that organisers now plan to take over football stadia and cinemas in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Stirling and Inverness for mass screenings of the Live8 concert being staged in the capital on July 6.

Local authorities, many of which have yet to be informed of the plans, gave their support but warned that the last-minute arrangements could trigger a threat to public safety.

We can also reveal today that Islamist extremists are considering sending "thousands" of activists to Edinburgh for the demonstrations, hoping to exploit the mood of angry protest against the West.

Buckingham Palace confirmed last night that the Queen had cancelled her traditional July holiday in Edinburgh because of a clash with the Make Poverty History marches in the capital. Her Royal Garden Party at Holyrood Palace has been postponed until July 28.

Police said they were confident they could ensure her safety during the summit protests, but a Palace spokeswoman said: "The Queen normally spends a summer week in Scotland at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. After discussions with the office of the First Minister, a decision was taken that the Queen will not spend a week at Holyroodhouse this summer because of the G8 summit."

Meanwhile, hospital chiefs in Edinburgh are understood to be in talks to postpone non-emergency operations at hospitals in order to free up wards for those who could be injured if violent clashes erupt.

The new moves for events across the country are a direct attempt to ease the pressure on Edinburgh.

Both Celtic Park and Ibrox in Glasgow are being pencilled in for a screening of the July 6 concert at Murrayfield. In other cities, cinemas or public areas could be used if the council and police are prepared to assist.

But while the new move may help Edinburgh, it is sure to place further pressure on other cities.

Glasgow is already at breaking point as it is handling both the arrival of dignitaries for the summit and the Special Olympics, with around 5,000 competitors descending on the city. Both events take place in the first week of July.

Elsewhere, many of Scotland's 16,000 police have already been given orders to guard existing G8 events and venues and were only informed yesterday about the new plans to spread protesters throughout the country. Strathclyde Police said yesterday they were still unaware of them.

The screenings of the concert are being planned by the Hunter Foundation, run by Scottish philanthropist Tom Hunter, which is already organising the Murrayfield event. A spokesman said: "We have spoken to Glasgow City Council and a couple of stadia owners. Glasgow is completely up for opening its doors and Edinburgh is happy for Glasgow to join forces."

The spokesman added: "Next week we will be speaking to Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness and Stirling. This should be about Scotland celebrating the decision that could be made by the G8. Imagine if, on Scotland's soil, these eight people decide to eradicate world poverty."

However, there are growing signs that, even if crowds are dispersed away from Edinburgh, the protest could become inflammatory.

The extremist Islamist group Hizb-ut-Tahrir - which is banned in almost all Muslim countries and across Europe - confirmed last night that it is preparing to join the protest.

While publicly embracing a non-violent code, Hizb-ut-Tahrir (the Islamic Party of Liberation) has been linked by opponents to the Palestinian terrorist organisation Islamic Jihad, while one leader has been imprisoned for circulating leaflets urging people to "kill the Jews".

Supporters of the group were recently blamed for intimidation in the bitterly fought Bethnal Green and Bow election battle involving maverick MP George Galloway.

Qasim Khawaja, spokesman for Hizb-ut-Tahrir, said: "We could quite easily mobilise thousands of people to Edinburgh. We want the Muslim world and the developing world to determine its own policies without interference from Western countries."

Scotland on Sunday also understands that hospital chiefs in Edinburgh are in talks to cancel elective surgery in the city during the week of the summit, from July 2 to 6.

Jim Foster, chief executive of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, said: "There are a lot of discussions about it [cancelling operations]. All elective procedures will be put to one side. It will be for individual hospitals to decide."

Medical staff also privately warn that the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is particularly vulnerable because of its shortage of beds.

The organisers of the protest now face a desperate rush over the next month to ensure that they are ready in time for the summit.

They are under increasing pressure after Geldof was labelled "irresponsible" by council chiefs in Edinburgh last week following his one-million-march call.

City council leaders across Scotland said yesterday that they were keen to support the aims of the campaign, but warned that they faced a hectic few weeks of preparation.

First Minister Jack McConnell is aware of the plans and is believed to have given his tentative support.

However, critics sounded a note of caution. Edinburgh MSP Margo MacDonald said: "I think most people have now got their fingers crossed that Bob Geldof's general OTT enthusiasm hasn't let some genie out of the bottle."

David McLetchie, the Scottish Tory leader, said: "The key issue is the need for proper planning and preparation. Those events that have involved the police, such as the Make Poverty History March on July 2, show how things can be well planned."

Attention will now turn to this Tuesday, when organisers are expected to flesh out their plans for Edinburgh. It is understood Save the Children has said it could "overnight" create a tented city for 30,000 people in Edinburgh. Several venues are being lined up.

There are also plans for Stagecoach, the bus company owned by tycoon Brian Souter, to transport people up the M1. It is thought that only those who can prove they have accommodation in Edinburgh will be allowed on board.

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has also agreed to provide free trains to bring hundreds of campaigners to the G8 protest.