US group REM are the latest music act to post an anti-war song on the internet, following The Beastie Boys and Lenny Kravitz.


Their anti-war track, titled The Final Straw, is available to download on REM's official website.


"This is the strongest voice I could think of to send out there. We had to send something out there now," said Michael Stipe, REM's lead singer, in a posting on the band's website.


"We are praying and hoping for the lives of all people involved, the troops, the Iraqi civilians, refugees, POWs, families of troops, the innocents, that they are safe and OK. Safe home, all."


The band follow in the footsteps of The Beastie Boys - their anti-war song In A World Gone Mad is available to download for free at their website and rocker Lenny Kravitz, who released an anti-war song with an Iraqi pop star earlier this week.


Kravitz and Iraqi singer Kadim Al Sahir have posted their song We Want Peace on the Rock the Vote website - a organisation which encourages young people to become involved in politics.


Madonna is due to sell her new anti-war single, American Life, on her official website next month. Fans can download the singer's latest track for less than £1 ($1.50).


Also getting in on the act is Australian actor Alan Fletcher, better known to soap fans as Dr Karl Kennedy in Neighbours.


Fletcher has written and recorded the song Perfectly Comfortable, which is available to download from his official website.

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