New York, March 23
At least 80 persons were arrested today when demonstrators clashed with the police at the end of a rally here against the US-led strikes in Iraq. Nearly 200,000 anti-war protesters marched through the streets in the USA. Though for the most part the protests were peaceful, there was a skirmish with the police as some protesters in New York — the city where the biggest anti-war rally was held — refused to clear the area after the peace march ended.
"Shock and Awe - Terrorism," "Money for Jobs, Not for War" and "Chirac for President 2004" said some of the placards carried by the demonstrators, who, however, made it clear that they supported the troops but opposed President George W. Bush's decision to go to war.
There were many banners making fun of Mr Bush, like "Iraq war: An unelected extremist vs an unelected extremist" and "Take the toys away from junior".
The protesters also took the media to task, accusing it of glorifying the war and ignoring their viewpoint. They demanded an equal time for the coverage of war and anti-war protests.
In
Atlanta, Georgia, some 1,000 persons demonstrated outside the headquarters of CNN, protesting against its extensive coverage of war.
In
Chicago, thousands of pro and anti war demonstrators confronted each other across the police lines. They shouted at each other with anti-war demonstrators calling their opponents "killers" and getting the prompt reply "idiots." But when some protesters shouted "USA, USA," both sides repeated the slogan to show their support for the troops.
In
Washington, several hundred war opponents gathered near the White House and marched through the streets.
In Los
Angeles, demonstrators marched to the CNN bureau, carrying placards saying "CNN and NBC put the peace march on TV", "CNN - Weapons of mass deception" and "CNN-Censorship Cable Network."
Demonstrations were also reported from San Francisco where the police had arrested some 15,00 persons during the past two days.
SYDNEY: Thousands of Australians, undeterred by the damp and blustery weather, marched through downtown Sydney on Sunday to voice continued strong opposition to the war on Iraq.
Chanting ''No war, no war'', blowing whistles and thumping drums, around 10,000 anti-war demonstrators brought Sydney city traffic to a complete standstill as ferocious round-the-clock aerial bombing continued on Iraqi cities. A life-sized papier-mache figure of US President Mr George Bush leading a dog wearing a face mask of Australian Prime Minister John Howard towered above the crowd. Some protesters brandished'.
''Who's next? Pakistan, India, North Korea. A Pandora's box
could be opened, I’m just hoping I’m wrong,’’ artist Charles Arnet, 52, wearing a bandanna and skull earring, said.
Mr Howard told a news conference on Sunday that he remained determined to continue to support in the US-led war. He said he was not surprised that protests were continuing but was heartened that demonstrators had so far targeted the war, not the troops.
‘’I’m not putting some kind of timing on the end of the military operation. I am certain that the operation will be successful, I’m certain that the cause is not only just and right but also based in international law,’’ Mr Howard told reporters.
The peaceful demonstrations in Australia contrast with some of the protests in Europe which descended into semi-riots with police personnel firing rubber bullets and tear-gas to disperse crowds.
Despite the large and vocal demonstrations, ordinary Australians remain almost evenly divided on support for the war.
A Newspoll survey published yesterday showed support for Australian involvement in the war had grown to 45 per cent, up from 25 per cent just over a week ago, with 47 per cent of respondents continuing to voice opposition to the conflict.
Australia has deployed around 2,000 military personnel in the Gulf. Its fighter jets, warships and 150 special forces now are involved in fighting deep inside Iraq.
Australian navy ships in the Gulf have fired on Iraqi positions and intercepted an Iraqi tugboat laden with sea mines.
Iraq’s ruling Baath Party has hailed protesters in the worldwide anti-war demonstrations as the true representatives of democracy and ‘’a joint force of resistance in the face of the US imperialistic regime’’, Iraqi state television reported.
BEIJING: China has expressed concern over the rising human casualties in the US-led war on Iraq and called for an early stoppage of the military action, the state media reported.
“China is deeply worried and gravely concerned about the casualties of Iraqi innocent civilians and humanitarian catastrophe caused by the war,” Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said on Sunday.
“Human life is the most valuable thing in the world,” Mr Li said during a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov.
The war has deeply concerned most countries and China appeals again to stop the military actions as soon as possible, Xinhua news agency quoted Mr Li as saying. He also promised to offer humanitarian aid to the Iraqi refugees in Jordan at an early date. China and Russia, both veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council, had opposed the USA and UK from launching a military attack on Iraq and bypassing the United Nations.
Beijing and Moscow had also called for the intensification of the UN-led weapons inspections in Iraq so as to disarm Baghdad of its weapons of mass destruction.
Reuters, PTI
