Thousands denounce Bush, Blair
2005-09-25 08:44
Washington - Tens of thousands of anti-war demonstrators staged rallies in Washington and London on Saturday, demanding the withdrawal of US and British troops as the Iraq conflict becomes increasingly unpopular.
Chanting "Bring the Troops Home Now," a column of protesters stretched for several blocks around the White House, with parents pushing infants in strollers while students beat makeshift drums.
Washington organisers said the crowd exceeded 100 000 protesters and police said the estimate was probably right.
Opponents of the US-led war also marched in central London. Police said 10 000 people converged on Hyde Park though organisers said there was 100 000.
Small rallies were also held in Copenhagen, Damascus, Helsinki, Paris, Rome and Seoul, while an anti-war march was also held in San Francisco on the US West coast. Others were scheduled in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Featured speakers in Washington included Cindy Sheehan, whose 24-year-old son, Casey, was killed in Iraq last year, and outspoken British member of parliament George Galloway, who received the biggest crowd response.
The Scottish socialist was given a rousing reception after he told the crowd: "There is an absolute need for your country and my country to stand shoulder to shoulder against the war criminals Tony Blair and George W Bush."
Galloway, who drew international attention for a fiery condemnation of US policy he made to the Senate earlier this year, said the British prime minister and US president had failed to justify the invasion.
"This is not a clash of civilizations, not a war between people of the West and East, not a war between Christianity and Islam; George Bush does not represent any civilization," he said to cheers.
Sheehan breathed new life into the anti-war movement in August when she camped outside the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas, demanding to speak to Bush.
The president refused to meet her then and was not in Washington for the rally, having gone to Colorado to inspect military preparations for the relief operation after Hurricane Rita.
Sheehan said however there were clear signs that the tide is turning against the president over Iraq.
"I believe momentum is building, I can see it with my eyes. But I also read the polls," she told reporters.
US demonstrators were buoyed by recent opinion polls that show a growing majority disapprove of Bush's handling of the war.
A Gallup poll this week showed 55% favour speeding up plans to withdraw troops from Iraq. A New York Times/CBS poll one week ago said support for the Iraq war has fallen to 44%, the lowest ever for the poll over the past two years.