Worldwide protests condemn Bush, Blair 'axis of
evil'
The latest wave of anti-war demonstrations have occurred
around the world, but on a smaller scale than those seen leading up to
the war and during the first few days of the attacks.
Rallies in London protested the invasion of Iraq by an Anglo-American
"axis of evil", while in South Africa, protesters condemned the
sale of military equipment to US-British forces.
In Germany and Italy, protesters demanded the withdrawal of military
facilities from US forces, while demonstrators in Croatia and Denmark
condemned the suffering which the 17-day-old war has inflicted on Iraqi
civilians.
Protests were also reported in several cities in Pakistan, as a prelude
to a planned mass march on April 14.
In London, police say around 1,000 people marched on the US embassy,
where speakers denounced the war, US President George W Bush and British
Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Protesters held up banners accusing Mr Bush and Mr Blair of being an
"axis of evil" and demanded Mr Blair's resignation.
"When I see the pictures of Iraqi people drinking sewage water, I
also see the coalition dropping bombs on them," Asad Rehman, a
member of the Stop the War Coalition which organised the demonstration,
said.
The Stop the War Coalition plans to organise a major demonstration in
London and more than 30 other cities worldwide on April 12.
In South Africa, police and the media say about 3,500 people protested in
Johannesburg and Cape Town, where they handed the government a statement
demanding an end to military trade with the United States, Britain and
backers of the war such as Australia and Israel.
"To continue to sell weapons to the US and UK in the light of the
illegal invasion of Iraq means that the SA government has chosen to side
with the invading armies," SAPA news agency quoted the statement as
saying.
The South African government was a vocal opponent of the war before the
invasion began on March 20.
Europe
In Germany, some 2,000 anti-war protesters gathered in
Heidelberg outside the US armed forces' headquarters in Europe, and laid
a wreath for the thousands of war victims, police said.
They demanded an end to all assistance for the war from the Berlin
government, which is staunchly opposed to the invasion, but is
nonetheless allowing US troops to overfly Germany and enjoy unfettered
access to its military bases.
According to organisers in Spain, around 30,000 demonstrators formed a
seven kilometre human chain in the port city of Valencia.
In the south-eastern city of Alicante, 3,000 people also protested
against the war, while in Almeria, also in the south 1,500 protesters
took to the streets.
Some 1,000 people protested in Granada and 400 in Palma de Majorca,
according to organisers.
A protest by 1,000 people took place outside the huge US airbase in
Aviano in north-eastern Italy, where up to 10,000 had demonstrated
against the war two weeks earlier.
The Interior Ministry in Rome says a further 6,500 people took part in
anti-war marches elsewhere in Italy, whose right-wing government backs
Washington in the conflict.
In Denmark and Croatia, protestors focused on the suffering of innocent
Iraqi civilians.
Both governments back the US position on Iraq.
Around 1,000 Danes braved a biting wind to form a human chain around the
US, British and Spanish embassies in Copenhagen.
They brandished placards saying "No to this shameful war" and
"Bush murderer".
Some 500 people staged an ear splitting anti-war protest with whistles,
drums, rattles, tambourines and trumpets in the Croatian capital Zagreb,
the largest held there since the conflict began.
They gathered outside the US embassy waving banners reading "Enough
of wars", "Osama Bush Laden" and "Butchers go
home".
http://www.abc.net.au/news/justin/nat/newsnat-6apr2003-24.htm
