Protesters demand Iraq pullout

2004-05-22 21:40

London - Hundreds of anti-war protesters marched through London on Saturday, calling for occupying forces to be withdrawn from Iraq and an end to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.

The march was headed by a number of demonstrators dressed as soldiers who pretended to torture other protesters wearing black hoods, in scenes reminiscent of photographs of the alleged torture of Iraqi prisoners by US soldiers.

The activists were watched by a strong contingent of police as they began walking alongside the River Thames in central London.

"We are protesting about the shocking abuses in Iraq and call for the withdrawal of the illegal aggressor forces," said Kate Hudson, a spokesperson for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

The walk, organized by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the Stop the War Coalition and the Muslim Association of Britain, ended with a rally in Trafalgar Square, where London Mayor Ken Livingstone addressed the crowd.

"There is nothing more to say than that the only way to end these horrors is by bringing our troops out of Iraq immediately," said Livingstone, a member of Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour Party.

Referring to US presidential elections later this year, Livingstone said he hoped President George W. Bush would be "consigned to the dustbin of history in November".

- AP