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Rally denounces occupation of Iraq

Hasan Suroor

Blair accused of being out of control of situation

CRY FOR PEACE: Anti-war protesters pass along Whitehall in London during a demonstration against the conflict in Iraq on Saturday. — PHOTO: AP

LONDON: Thousands of people marched through the streets of Central London on Saturday to protest against the continued occupation of Iraq as pressure mounted on Prime Minister Tony Blair to set a deadline for withdrawal of British troops from the region.

The protest, timed to coincide with the annual Labour Party conference, was kicked off with fathers of two British soldiers, killed in Iraq, addressing anti-war activists outside the Houses of Parliament in defiance of a ban on rallies in the area.

The protesters, among whom were a large number of women and students, walked to Hyde Park where they held a rally addressed by intellectuals and leaders such as Labour Party's Tony Benn who said the opposition to the war was no longer a minority opinion. Writer and peace campaigner Tariq Ali accused Mr. Blair of being "out of control.''

The march — the 12th rally since the invasion of Iraq two years ago — came amid growing concern for the safety of troops after this week's violent confrontation between British soldiers and Iraqi police in Basra when the former raided a jail to free two of their undercover colleagues held allegedly by militants.

As the march started, Sue Smith, whose son died in the war, wrote an open letter to Mr. Blair accusing him of sacrificing young British lives for his own political interests.

"I am sitting writing this letter hoping that you will understand how we feel, but I know that you don't,'' she said.

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