Brits winners attack war plans
 Double winner: Ms Dynamite
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Ms Dynamite and Coldplay used the Brit Awards to lambast plans for a war in Iraq as they picked up two prizes each at the UK's most prestigious music ceremony.
Ms Dynamite - who won best British female artist and best urban act - performed a rewritten version of George Michael's track Faith which said: "I don't want blood on my hands."
Meanwhile, Coldplay singer Chris Martin - who accepted best British group and album - attacked George Bush from the stage at the London show.
US rapper Eminem was the other big winner, also scooping two prizes - best international male and album.
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 I don't wanna see children die no moreSo I gotta make a stand Can you hear my voice? Taking a life is only God's choice I don't want blood on my hands
Ms Dynamite's reworked Faith
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Ms Dynamite took to the Earl's Court stage with backing from George Michael, who did not attend but recorded a new version of the video for his 1987 hit instead.
Most of the song was rewritten, with Ms Dynamite's lyrics changing to: "I don't wanna see children die no more/ So I gotta make a stand/ Can you hear my voice?/ Taking a life is only God's choice/I don't want blood on my hands."
George Michael's lyrics included the lines: "There's got to be a better way," and "maybe we've got time to make it right".
 Chris Martin spoke out against war
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Coldplay's Chris Martin, who had earlier joked about how his band were the best in the world - "except for [boy band] Blue" - turned serious when he picked up the best British album award.
"Awards are basically a nonsense and we're all going to die if George Bush has his way, but thanks for these two awards anyway," he told the 5,000-strong crowd.
'Marriage' mystery
Ms Dynamite also stole the show by implying she had just got married.
The singer, who has enjoyed huge success over the last 12 months, thanked "my husband" when picking up the best urban artist award.
The 21-year-old, who is expecting a baby by bodyguard Dwayne Seaforth, normally guards her personal life jealously, and her publicist later denied she had got married.
 Pink backed Ms Dynamite's stance
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"She's just called him that. It's a figure of speech," the spokesman said.
Rapper Eminem did not attend the ceremony to pick up his two prizes, but accepted his best international album prize by video with an expletive-ridden speech, in which he said: "I don't even deserve these awards."
Robbie Williams, who has dominated past ceremonies, won in just one category this year - best British male.
Pink crown
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True celebrities talk with their ability instead of making crass statements
Nigel Bull, UK
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The singer, who recently split from model Rachel Hunter, accepted his prize via video from Los Angeles in the style of a lonely hearts advertisement.
But not all North American-based stars stayed away. Singer Pink opened the show appearing out of a giant crown.
She later backed Ms Dynamite's performance of Faith, telling the BBC: "It was needed."
Canadian punk-pop performer Avril Lavigne also made the trip to London, performing her hit Sk8er Boi with the backing of 21 drummers.
Pop Idol winner Will Young took the British breakthrough artist prize, while Grammy favourite Norah Jones took the international equivalent.
Gibb tribute
 Liberty X take their best single prize
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Liberty X took the best British single prize for Just A Little, crowning a triumphant year for the group formed by "rejects" from reality show Popstars.
The award was presented by Robin Gibb, who said of his late brother Maurice, who died last month: "He was a great British musican and a great British singer and tonight I'm here in his honour."
Sugababes, who arrived at the awards ceremony in revealing outfits, won best dance act.
But there were no Brits for Mike Skinner, who as hip-hop act The Streets was nominated in four categories.
Jones award
Other highlights of the show included Justin Timberlake and Kylie Minogue performing a raunchy dance routine, to a medley of his hit Cry Me A River and Blondie's Rapture.
 Jones perfomed a short greatest hits set
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Veteran star Tom Jones picked up a lifetime achievement award, dedicating it to his late mother - who died two weeks ago - and father.
Robbie Williams paid tribute to him by video, saying his duet with Jones at the 2000 Brits gave his career a huge boost.
Williams said: "I believe that my singing that duet with you was the catalyst for my career.
"If Tom Jones had not said yes to that, I would not be sitting here tonight congratulating him."