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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Thousands join anti-war protests | Thousands join anti-war protests |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of people are taking part in demonstrations in London and Glasgow, to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq. | |
| Demonstrators are calling for troops to be withdrawn from Iraq and Afghanistan, against an attack on Iran, and for Gaza's borders to be re-opened. | Demonstrators are calling for troops to be withdrawn from Iraq and Afghanistan, against an attack on Iran, and for Gaza's borders to be re-opened. |
| However the Foreign Office says "steady progress" is being made in Iraq. | |
| A spokesman added that in Afghanistan NATO forces are "winning the struggle against the Taleban." | A spokesman added that in Afghanistan NATO forces are "winning the struggle against the Taleban." |
| 'More dangerous place' | 'More dangerous place' |
| A spokesman for the Stop the War Coalition said that five years after the invasion of Iraq, the world had become "a much more dangerous place." | A spokesman for the Stop the War Coalition said that five years after the invasion of Iraq, the world had become "a much more dangerous place." |
| He added: "Estimates suggest as many as one million have died violent deaths as a result of the occupation of Iraq. | He added: "Estimates suggest as many as one million have died violent deaths as a result of the occupation of Iraq. |
| "Despite talk of a change of attitude to Bush's wars, Brown is sending more troops to Afghanistan. This hidden war is fast becoming a disaster mirroring Iraq." | "Despite talk of a change of attitude to Bush's wars, Brown is sending more troops to Afghanistan. This hidden war is fast becoming a disaster mirroring Iraq." |
| Stop the War says that the effect of the conflicts was to spread instability around the world: "The turmoil in Pakistan is partly caused by the âwar on terrorâ and it will cause more chaos in Afghanistan. | Stop the War says that the effect of the conflicts was to spread instability around the world: "The turmoil in Pakistan is partly caused by the âwar on terrorâ and it will cause more chaos in Afghanistan. |
| "Despite clear evidence that Iran is nowhere near developing nuclear weapons, Bush is continuing to ramp up pressure against the regime there, risking war at any time." | "Despite clear evidence that Iran is nowhere near developing nuclear weapons, Bush is continuing to ramp up pressure against the regime there, risking war at any time." |
| In Iraq, there is clear evidence we are making steady progress, particularly in terms of security Foreign Office spokesman | In Iraq, there is clear evidence we are making steady progress, particularly in terms of security Foreign Office spokesman |
| The peace campaigner Bianca Jagger said it was "astonishing" that former prime minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush had not been called to account for the Iraq war, which she called an "unmitigated disaster". | The peace campaigner Bianca Jagger said it was "astonishing" that former prime minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush had not been called to account for the Iraq war, which she called an "unmitigated disaster". |
| "I urge Prime Minister Gordon Brown to have the integrity to withdraw completely from Iraq and Afghanistan and to set a date now for bringing the troops home", she said. | "I urge Prime Minister Gordon Brown to have the integrity to withdraw completely from Iraq and Afghanistan and to set a date now for bringing the troops home", she said. |
| Government response | Government response |
| A Foreign Office spokesman said Stop The War's desription of the situation was "simply not accurate", on Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran or Pakistan. | A Foreign Office spokesman said Stop The War's desription of the situation was "simply not accurate", on Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran or Pakistan. |
| "In Iraq, there is clear evidence we are making steady progress, particularly in terms of security. We have also acknowledged that mistakes were made, and drawn the appropriate lessons. | "In Iraq, there is clear evidence we are making steady progress, particularly in terms of security. We have also acknowledged that mistakes were made, and drawn the appropriate lessons. |
| Tony Blair and Gordon Brown should be tried for war crimes Caroline LucasGreen MEP | Tony Blair and Gordon Brown should be tried for war crimes Caroline LucasGreen MEP |
| "In Afghanistan NATO forces are winning the strruggle against the Taliban. 5.4 million children are in school (one third of them girls), compared to an estimated one million children in 2001, few of whom were girls. And 2007 saw 13 Afghan provinces go poppy-free, up from six in 2006. | "In Afghanistan NATO forces are winning the strruggle against the Taliban. 5.4 million children are in school (one third of them girls), compared to an estimated one million children in 2001, few of whom were girls. And 2007 saw 13 Afghan provinces go poppy-free, up from six in 2006. |
| "Iran still has many questions to answer over its nuclear ambitions - we are pursuing UN-approved sanctions to encourage Iran to provide greater transparency. | "Iran still has many questions to answer over its nuclear ambitions - we are pursuing UN-approved sanctions to encourage Iran to provide greater transparency. |
| "And in Pakistan we are encouraged by initial moves to form a new, democratic government, which reflects the will of Pakistan's people. No one is under any illusion that these are not tough challenges - but we are absolutely commited to making further progress", he said. | "And in Pakistan we are encouraged by initial moves to form a new, democratic government, which reflects the will of Pakistan's people. No one is under any illusion that these are not tough challenges - but we are absolutely commited to making further progress", he said. |
| 'War crime' | 'War crime' |
| Speaking at the rally in Trafalgar Square, the Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Tongue told the BBC that the war in Iraq had been an illegal act, supported by false documentary evidence. | Speaking at the rally in Trafalgar Square, the Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Tongue told the BBC that the war in Iraq had been an illegal act, supported by false documentary evidence. |
| "We feel that there are people who have literally got away with murder. We have people who have made an illegal war happen, and no-one has brought them to book, and it's about time we did." | "We feel that there are people who have literally got away with murder. We have people who have made an illegal war happen, and no-one has brought them to book, and it's about time we did." |
| The Green MEP Caroline Lucas called for Gordon Brown and Tony Blair to be prosecuted for war crimes. | The Green MEP Caroline Lucas called for Gordon Brown and Tony Blair to be prosecuted for war crimes. |
| "Tony Blair and Gordon Brown should be tried for war crimes at the international court in the Hague. They need to know you cannot bomb your way to peace", she said. | "Tony Blair and Gordon Brown should be tried for war crimes at the international court in the Hague. They need to know you cannot bomb your way to peace", she said. |
| The Respect MP George Galloway, addressing the crowd in London, warned against any invasion of Iran. | |
| "Let's bring all the soldiers home. Let them wear their uniforms here in Britain rather than in Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. | |
| "If the bombs do fall on Iran... they will murder Iranians indiscriminately as they murdered Iraqis and Afghans before." |