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| Thousands protest in UK over Gaza | Thousands protest in UK over Gaza |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of protesters have gathered in cities across the UK to call for an end to Israeli attacks on Gaza. | Thousands of protesters have gathered in cities across the UK to call for an end to Israeli attacks on Gaza. |
| Organisers of a Birmingham rally said more than 5,000 people had turned up, though police estimated about 3,000. | |
| Some protesters burned the Israeli flag while others carried stretchers with representations of bodies. | |
| Meanwhile, sources have told the BBC the Israeli cabinet is due to approve a ceasefire, to be confirmed in a speech from prime minister Ehud Olmert. | |
| The sources said the ceasefire deal did not involve Israel's opponents, the militant group Hamas. | |
| In London, where police estimated 3,500 demonstrators had gathered, former Labour minister Tony Benn addressed the crowds in Trafalgar Square. | |
| He said: "It is a moral responsibility for all of us. People are being killed not so far away from here, women and children." | He said: "It is a moral responsibility for all of us. People are being killed not so far away from here, women and children." |
| After the demonstration, a delegation of 200 women and children went to Downing Street to hand in a letter asking Prime Minister Gordon Brown to put pressure on Israel to call a ceasefire. | After the demonstration, a delegation of 200 women and children went to Downing Street to hand in a letter asking Prime Minister Gordon Brown to put pressure on Israel to call a ceasefire. |
| Israelis have targeted places where they know there are women and children. I think [Foreign Secretary] David Miliband has to do more Labour MP Diane Abbott The group included many children carrying dolls to symbolise the children killed in the conflict. | |
| Labour MP Diane Abbott was with the group and said: "So many children have died - these are innocent children. | |
| "Israelis have targeted places where they know there are women and children. I think [Foreign Secretary] David Miliband has said some of the right things but he has to do more. | |
| "I think he should travel to Gaza to show the world's condemnation." | |
| Chris Khamis, chairman of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, said: "Children are getting killed, women are getting killed. They are unable to defend themselves. It's just horrendous. | Chris Khamis, chairman of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, said: "Children are getting killed, women are getting killed. They are unable to defend themselves. It's just horrendous. |
| "People from all religions and no religions, and including Jews, have come here to express their outrage and demand that this medieval siege is brought to an end." | |
| Last Saturday up to 20,000 people marched through the capital in a similar demonstration which ended in violence. | Last Saturday up to 20,000 people marched through the capital in a similar demonstration which ended in violence. |
| Missiles were hurled and windows were smashed near the Israeli Embassy on Kensington High Street. Police made 24 arrests. | Missiles were hurled and windows were smashed near the Israeli Embassy on Kensington High Street. Police made 24 arrests. |
| PROTESTS ACROSS THE UK Protesters gathered at a number of UK cities, including Dundee class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/7835040.stm">Dundee marchers call for peace class="" href="/1/hi/england/sussex/7835082.stm">Protesters raid Sussex arms factory class="" href="/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/7835377.stm">Leeds protest over Gaza conflict Protests have also taken place in Cardiff, Dundee, Nottingham, Liverpool, Norwich and Cambridge. | |
| The events have been organised by Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, British Muslim Association and other groups. | The events have been organised by Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, British Muslim Association and other groups. |
| The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza has told the BBC that 1,193 people have been killed, including 410 children and 108 women, since the conflict began on 27 December. | The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza has told the BBC that 1,193 people have been killed, including 410 children and 108 women, since the conflict began on 27 December. |
| There were 5,300 people wounded, including 1,600 children, the ministry said. | There were 5,300 people wounded, including 1,600 children, the ministry said. |
| Thirteen Israelis, mostly soldiers, have been killed during the campaign. | Thirteen Israelis, mostly soldiers, have been killed during the campaign. |
| Civil servant Faruq Ali, 39, was protesting in Birmingham. He said: "What's happened is an injustice. When you see an injustice happening, whether you are Muslim or non-Muslim, people want to have their voices heard." | Civil servant Faruq Ali, 39, was protesting in Birmingham. He said: "What's happened is an injustice. When you see an injustice happening, whether you are Muslim or non-Muslim, people want to have their voices heard." |
| Flowers were laid at the foot of a statue of Queen Victoria in Birmingham city centre for victims of the conflict. | |
| Attached to the statue was a doll of a crying child wrapped in "blood-stained" clothes. Next to it were four roses. | |
| Another rally is planned for the day of Barack Obama's inauguration outside the US Embassy in central London on Tuesday. |