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Thousands join anti-war protests Thousands join anti-war protests
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of people have joined demonstrations in London and Glasgow, to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq.Thousands of people have joined 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Demonstrators are calling for troops to be withdrawn from Iraq and Afghanistan, against an attack on Iran, and for Gaza's borders to be re-opened. Demonstrators are calling for troops to be withdrawn from Iraq and Afghanistan and for Gaza's borders to be re-opened.
The Foreign Office commented that Iraq was seeing "steady progress". Organisers said 40,000 people took part in London but police said 10,000. A Stop the War spokesman said Iraq had made the world a more dangerous place.
A spokesman added that in Afghanistan Nato forces are "winning the struggle against the Taleban." But a Foreign Office spokesman said Iraq was making "steady progress".
'More dangerous place' Tony Blair and Gordon Brown should be tried for war crimes Caroline LucasGreen MEP class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7297378.stm">Hundreds march in Glasgow In London there were speeches from the leaders of a range of groups including CND and the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign. Demonstrators also called for there to be no US attack on Iran.
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.
"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."
In Iraq, there is clear evidence we are making steady progress, particularly in terms of security Foreign Office spokesman
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 ‘war on terror’ 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."
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.
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.
"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
"In Afghanistan Nato forces are winning the strruggle against the Taleban. 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.
"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'
Organisers of the London march say they estimate that about 40,000 people are taking part. The Metropolitan Police put the number at 10,000.
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."
Stop the War demonstrators marching in Glasgow Former Labour cabinet minister Tony Benn said: "The troops in Iraq have caused devastation. It's the same in Afghanistan."
The Green MEP Caroline Lucas called for Gordon Brown and Tony Blair to be prosecuted for war crimes. 'Hidden war'
"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. Green MEP Caroline Lucas called for Tony Blair and Gordon Brown to be prosecuted for war crimes.
The Respect MP George Galloway, addressing the crowd in London, warned against any invasion of Iran. And a spokesman for the Stop the War Coalition said: "Estimates suggest as many as one million have died violent deaths as a result of the occupation of Iraq.
"Let's bring all the soldiers home. Let them wear their uniforms here in Britain rather than in Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. Glasgow hosted another demo"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."
"If the bombs do fall on Iran... they will murder Iranians indiscriminately as they murdered Iraqis and Afghans before." 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".
Meanwhile in Glasgow hundreds of protestors also marched through the city, waving placards saying "Troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan" and "Don't attack Iran" and "Freedom for Palestine".
A Foreign Office spokesman said Stop The War's description of the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran was "simply not accurate".
No arrests were made "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 Afghanistan Nato forces are winning the struggle against the Taleban, he said, with 5.4 million children in school compared to an estimated one million children in 2001.
"Iran still has many questions to answer over its nuclear ambitions - we are pursuing UN-approved sanctions to encourage Iran to provide greater transparency," 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."