First demonstration reports

[Juan Fajardo <fajardos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

   Last Updated:  Saturday, 12 April, 2003, 18:44 GMT 19:44 UK

         PROTESTERS STAGE ANTI-WAR MARCH

The Stop the War coalition believes public opposition to the conflict is
still strong - in spite of scenes of jubilation this week as American
tanks entered Iraqi cities.

Organisers say between 150,000 and 200,000 people marched through the
capital, but Scotland Yard estimated that 20,000 people took part in the
rally at Hyde Park - the final meeting point for protesters.

Former Pakistani cricket captain Imran Khan - who joined the march -
said the numbers were irrelevant.

"It doesn't matter how many people turn out, it's about registering a
protest that a principle has been violated, international law has been
violated and everyone who cares must register a protest," he said.
[...]

Hundreds of anti-war protesters also took to the streets of Glasgow, in
a march organised by the Scottish Coalition for Justice not War.

The London rally, which started at Victoria and Waterloo stations and
followed two routes through the city converged on Parliament Square on
Saturday afternoon, where a two minutes' silence was held "for the war
dead".

[...]

On Saturday, protests against the war also took place in around 40 other
countries, including New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and Greece.

One of the biggest was in Rome, where an estimated 110,000 people took
part, while around 10,000 were out on the streets of Paris.

In New York, Sara Flounders, co-director of the International Action
Center said: "It's more urgent and more important than ever that there
be a mobilisation. Only now the focus is, 'No' to colonial occupation,"
she said.

Full story at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2941315.stm



[PS: The rally in San Francisco was due to have started half an hour
ago, at noon, and the march at 1 o'clock, but it is raining cats and
dogs out here, at the very least the lit tables and sound systems will
be affected.  I decided to stay home rather than stand and march in
0.5-0.79 in/hour of rain as it is currently coming down.  No doubt many
others will do the same.]