Police seeking revellers who urinated on Ottawa memorial

Ottawa police are looking for three Canada Day revellers photographed urinating on the National War Memorial.

Police have asked anyone with information about the three to come forward.

Det. Mike Walker said police have contactedthe photographer,retired Canadian Armed Forces Maj. Michael Pilon, and will ensure charges are laid.

Pilon's picture,taken around 11 p.m. on July 1 after a fireworks display ended, has prompted outrage.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper called an Ottawa radio station and said the action was "thoughtless," but "it doesn't represent the views of any segment of Canadian society, we all strongly honour our vets."

Police saidthey could lay charges of mischief, being drunk in a public place and performing an indecent act in a public place.

Veterans want security for monument

The incidenthas renewed calls by veterans groups for better securityto protect thememorial, located in the centre of Ottawa.It honours the country'swar dead and holds the remains of The Unknown Soldier, returned to Canada from France in 2000.

"We've asked for people to be stationed here so that it can be stopped. And we'll be pressing for that in the future, and I must say that we'll be pressing much harder from now on," Royal Canadian Legion's Bob Butt said.

Pilon said he sawdrunken revellers pouring beer on the site in 2005, and he's written to politicians and various government agencies in the past to ask that the monument be kept off limits on Canada Day, but without success.

This time, however, he's got pictures to support his pleas.

"I just happened to have my camera, and there they were. Quite eager to pose, I may add. I guess that's just one of the symptoms of having one beer too many."

The incidents came hours after Harper and Gov.Gen.Michaëlle Jean hosted a huge ceremony at the site.