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Police thank anti-war protesters Labour conference opens in city
(about 5 hours later)
Police have praised thousands of anti-war protesters for their peaceful demonstration in Manchester ahead of the Labour Party annual conference. The Labour Party has started its annual conference in Manchester, the first time it has been held in the city since 1917.
A police security cordon, taking in the G-Mex conference centre and nearby hotels, has sealed off part of the city centre to traffic.
Party chair and Salford MP Hazel Blears opened the conference celebrating the party's record in government.
An estimated 17,000 people will be in the city for the conference.
Church parade
Earlier in the day Prime Minister Tony Blair attended a church service at St Ann's Church in the city centre with his wife Cherie where they were greeted by the Canon Rodger Hill.
The security operation for the conference is the biggest ever mounted by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), costing £4.2m and involving 1,000 officers every day.
Security arrangements had to be reviewed last week after thieves stole a laptop containing confidential plans for the conference.
In addition to GMP, officers from the security services, the military, Special Branch and Greater Manchester's Anti-Terrorist Unit are involved in the operation.
Demo praise
On Saturday police praised the estimated 20,000 anti-war protesters for their peaceful demonstration.
Supt John O'Hare of Gtr Manchester Police said: "I would thank the organisers and those who took part for behaving peacefully and lawfully."Supt John O'Hare of Gtr Manchester Police said: "I would thank the organisers and those who took part for behaving peacefully and lawfully."
Demonstrators were protesting against government policies in the Middle East and on nuclear weapons.Demonstrators were protesting against government policies in the Middle East and on nuclear weapons.
The conference was opening with tight security on Sunday. A peace camp has been set up in the Manchester Peace Garden which is near the town hall and close to the conference venue.
Security cordon
A security cordon is in place in part of the city around the G-Mex Centre and the nearby conference centre for the start of the conference.
Diversions are in place for cars and buses because of the security cordon. Traffic is likely to be disrupted until the conference ends on Thursday.
Police estimated 20,000 people took part in the "Time To Go" rally organised by the Stop The War Coalition.
Some protesters lay down in the road as part of a "die-in" to symbolise the number of casualties in Iraq.
A peace camp was set up at the nearby Peace Gardens in Manchester near the town hall earlier this week by families of serving troops.