SAN FRANCISCO -- Mayor Gavin Newsom has rebuffed the Board of Supervisor's request to fly the U.S. flag above City Hall at half-staff on Saturday to honor everyone who has died in the Iraq war.

Newsom rejected the proposal because the flag is to be flown at half-staff only when a prominent local figure dies or by order of the president or governor, mayor's spokesman Peter Ragone said.

A massive anti-war protest is scheduled for Saturday to mark the second anniversary of the Iraq war.

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who sponsored the resolution to protest the United States' involvement in Iraq, called Newsom's decision "deplorable."

"Whether you are for or against or agnostic about the war, lowering the flag is simply a sign of respect," he said.

But Ragone said Mirkarimi should turn his attention elsewhere.

"We urge the supervisor to join us in criticizing President Bush and supporters of this war -- not the people who actually agree with him."

Newsom has ordered the flag over City Hall be flown at half-staff a handful of times, including on Sept. 11, 2004, to mark the anniversary of the terrorist attacks.