Thousands of protesters today staged a march and rally in central London to call for a halt to the bombing in Afghanistan and the threat to other countries such as Iraq.
Police estimated that around 7,500 demonstrators had gathered by the time the march reached Trafalgar Square, although organisers of the protest said 20,000 people attended.
Demonstrators waving ěstop the warî and ěhands off Iraqî placards gathered in Hyde Park before the march.
The crowd stood beneath a sea of multi-coloured banners in Trafalgar Square and listened to speeches from prominent anti-war campaigners.
Veteran Labour left-winger and former MP Tony Benn received a huge cheer as he called on the demonstrators to use non-violent resistance against the Government if it entered into war with Iraq.
He said: ěThe moment that bombing begins, we go to where we are and we stop for an hour.
ěStop the buses, stop the trains. Itís got to be something we take up in every town and village.
ěGo home today, talk to your schools, raise it in the churches, the temples, the mosques, the synagogues and at work, because we could well be heading for a Third World War because of stupid men who are in government and are governing in our name.
ěAnd then we continue to stop for one hour every day. That is my proposal.î
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