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Thousands mark Iraq anniversary joining anti-war protests

15/03/2008

Thousands of people have gathered today in London and Glasgow to march in protest against Britain's continued presence in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The march marks the fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq and was organised by the Stop the War Coalition.

Around 50,000 people were expected to attend the march in London which also aims to campaign against any future attack on Iran and for the border between Israel and the Gaza strip to be re-opened.

A statement from the Stop the War Coalition said the marches in London and Glasgow would form part of a Global Day of Protest.

A spokesman from the coalition urged prime minister Gordon Brown to decrease the number of soldiers he was committing to the two war-torn regions and to start brining British troops home.

The spokesman said: "Five years after the invasion of Iraq the world has become a much more dangerous place. Estimates suggest as many as one million have died violent deaths as a result of the occupation of Iraq.

"Despite talk of a change of attitude to Bush's wars, Brown is sending more troops to Afghanistan. This hidden war is fast becoming a disaster mirroring Iraq."

The March in London began in Trafalgar Square, went up Whitehall and finished in Parliament Square – where organisers planned to surround parliament during the final speeches made to the rally.