Posted on 09/28/2002 12:42:18 PM PDT by adam stevens
50,000 in London Protest Iraq Action Sat Sep 28, 2:38 PM ET By AUDREY WOODS, Associated Press Writer
LONDON (AP) - More than 50,000 Britons from all regions, ages and social backgrounds, marched in central London Saturday, urging Prime Minister Tony Blair ( news - web sites) and President Bush ( news - web sites) not to invade Iraq.
AP Photo
As they wound their way from Embankment on the River Thames to Hyde Park, many of the demonstrators stopped to shout through the gates of Blair's 10 Downing St. residence.
"Tony Blair, shame, shame, no more killing in my name," went one chant.
"We believe it would be wholly immoral and wrong and criminal for the United States and Britain to attack Iraq and inflict casualties upon innocent people," Tony Benn, a former Labor Party legislator and veteran left-winger, told the crowd. "We must see it is not allowed to happen."
Tam Dalyell, who holds the title father of the House of Commons, said the Iraq dilemma was the most dangerous standoff since the Cuban missile crisis.
"We are sleepwalking to disaster," he said.
Streams of people poured out of subway stations near the march's starting point and demonstrators at the back of the march were still setting off after those at the front had reached Hyde Park, more than a mile away.
Scotland Yard said it was still working on a crowd estimate but that there were more than 50,000 demonstrators.
Andrew Burgin, of the Stop the War Coalition, which helped organize the march, said there were 250,000 people and added that the crowd was still growing.
"Iraq is not our enemy, stop Bush," said a homemade banner carried by Irial Eno, 12, who attended the rally with her sister, mother and grandmother. She said it was not right to kill innocent Iraqis in order to topple their leader.
Irial's mother, Anthea Eno, said she would support an attack on Iraq if it had United Nations ( news - web sites) backing, but added that she did not expect that to happen.
The march came as Britain and the United States worked together on a draft resolution on Iraq which they plan to propose to the United Nations.
Blair has been Bush's staunchest ally on Iraq and last week released a dossier claiming Saddam Hussein ( news - web sites) has stockpiled chemical and biological weapons, and is trying to develop nuclear arms.
Legislators from the prime minister's own Labor Party are among the leaders of the Stop the War Coalition, which organized the march with the Muslim Association of Britain.
The march was also meant as a protest of Israel's policies in the West Bank and Gaza, and many protesters expressed sympathy for the Palestinian cause. "Stop Israeli war crimes," said one sign.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone said the wrong motivations were driving the confrontation with Iraq.
"It's not about defense of British people or British interests, it's so that corrupt American politicians can get their hands on Iraqi oil," he told reporters.
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As far as I'm concerned, I want you to know that you, as an Englishman, should never be called upon by any of us to apologize for the nuts and flakes in your country. In a way, it's sort of a good thing that this happens. Allowing the scum to rise to the surface may open the eyes of many English and cause them to take a closer look at what's happening to their country. I think it will galvanize a lot of people to finally turn the tide. Being the eternal optimist that I am, and having faith in the inherent spirit of the British people as a whole, I have a feeling that your country, probably more than any other, has arrived at a crossroads, and what we're seeing now is the struggle over which road to take. Will the UK cast its lot with pan-Europeanism, or will it stubbornly regain and maintain its unique position as a bridge between Europe and the U.S.? Will it sell its sovereignty completely down the river? I think the next few years will answer the questions. I firmly believe 9-11 was a turning point for everyone, but the UK especially.
Niet mogelijk, mijn vriend.
Groetjes,
Ivan
Everyone who has said that, from Napoleon to Adolf and so on, has been proven wrong. I have little doubt that they are still wrong.
Regards, Ivan
The crowd was not as large as they say. Last weekend we had a truly large crowd, which basically clogged London. London was not clogged yesterday.
Regards, Ivan
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