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Iraq

Antiwar protests loudest in London

In the United States and Europe, demonstrations mark the second anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

LONDON - Tens of thousands of antiwar protesters demonstrated across Europe and in the United States on Saturday to mark the second anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, with 45,000 Britons marching from London's Hyde Park past the American Embassy to Trafalgar Square.

British elections expected in May lent an added charge to the largest protest, in London, where Prime Minister Tony Blair's staunch backing of the war has diminished his base of support.

Police said about 45,000 demonstrators participated in a march; organizers put the number at 100,000. Several army veterans were among the crowd.

"I disagreed with (the war) to start with because I was suspicious of the weapons of mass destruction claims," said Ray Hewitt, 34, a veteran of the 1991 Gulf War. "I saw the Iraqi army in 1991 and we destroyed it."

Hundreds of protesters marched in New York and San Francisco. Hundreds of police in Chicago escorted about 1,000 marchers in Chicago, and more than 1,000 people marched through Pittsburgh.

About 27 protesters in New York and two in Chicago were arrested.

In Istanbul, Turkey, an estimated 15,000 people - some carrying signs reading "Murderer Bush, get out" - marched in the Kadikoy neighborhood.

Two marchers dressed as U.S. soldiers pretended to rough up a third, dressed as a detainee with a sack on his head in a mimed criticism of U.S. abuse of prisoners.

In the southern Turkish city of Adana, home to a Turkish military base used by American forces, protesters laid a black wreath in front of the U.S. Consulate, the Anatolia news agency reported.

In Poland - which commands a multinational security force in Iraq that includes 1,700 Polish troops - about 500 protesters marched to the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, holding banners reading "Pull out from Iraq now" and "Poles back to Poland."

"We are protesting this war in Iraq because it has no point. Only innocent people are killed, and nothing good results from it," said Klaudia Kosicinska, a 17-year-old high school student.

At an antiwar march in the industrial city of Katowice, protesters - including one dressed as a blindfolded Statue of Liberty - urged the United States and Britain to leave Iraq.

In Athens, Greece, about 3,000 trade unionists, members of peace groups and students brought the city center to a standstill for about three hours, marching to the U.S. Embassy.

In Sweden, about 300 protesters filled Sergel Square in downtown Stockholm, chanting, "USA, out of Iraq!"

The protests were nowhere near as big as in February 2003, just before the war when millions marched in cities around the world to urge President Bush and his allies not to attack.

"People have become apathetic about this; it's no longer something they walk around thinking about every day," said Linn Majuri, 15, a protester in Stockholm.

With international forces facing violent opposition in Iraq, protesters were divided about what to demand from leaders. While some wanted a full troop withdrawal, others argued that would leave Iraqis in a worse position than before the invasion.

"We got the Iraqis into this mess, we need to help them out of it," said London protester Kit MacLean, 29.

Security was heavy outside the U.S. Embassy in London, where cement barricades and metal fences blocked the building, as they have since Sept. 11. Two former British soldiers placed a cardboard coffin bearing the words "100,000 dead" outside the U.S. compound.

With music and banners, marchers in Rome called for the withdrawal of Italian troops from Iraq. "Iraq to the Iraqis!" read one banner.

In Oslo, Norway, about 400 people rallied to demand that the 10 Norwegian officers in Baghdad be sent home. Norway has previously withdrawn 150 soldiers from Iraq.

"It's becoming more and more embarrassing that we are in the coalition of the willing when many other countries are withdrawing," said Ingrid Fiskaa, head of the peace activism group Fredsinitiativet.

Many at the London protest voiced anger at Blair, who has been Bush's staunchest ally in Iraq despite strong domestic opposition to the war.

Some at the protest said they couldn't support Blair, but didn't know whom else to vote for. The opposition Conservatives strongly backed the war while the third-largest party, the Liberal Democrats, opposed it.

"I think it's outrageous what Blair and Bush think they can get away with," said retiree John Salway, 59. "I'd like to think we can put a dent in their arrogance."

[Last modified March 20, 2005, 01:09:07]