LONDON, March 17, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) As part of
worldwide protests against the US occupation of Iraq, tens of thousands of
people are planning to take to the streets of London Saturday, March 18,
to denounce the US occupation on the third anniversary of the downfall of
the Arab country.
"Our demonstration on Saturday is one of over 200
taking place in cities and towns all over the world, including in Basra
and Baghdad in Iraq," Lindsey German, Convener of Stop the War Coalition,
said in a press release e-mailed to IslamOnline.net Friday, March
17.
Acting without a UN mandate, US-led forces invaded
oil-rich Iraq in March 2003, under the pretext of imminent threat posed by
the countrys alleged weapons of mass destruction, none of which was ever
found.
Saturday's march will set off along Victoria Street
passing the Attorney General's office on its way to Piccadilly and
Trafalgar Square.
"We will all be united in our call for the occupation
to end immediately," German said.
A cohort of world dignitaries will address the
marchers on the third anniversary of the US-led invasion.
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, former UK ambassador
to Uzbekistan Craig Murray and British lawmaker George Galloway are but a
few of prominent speakers at the march.
Speakers will also include officials from the Muslim
Association of Britain, the Islamic Iraqi party and Stop the War
Coalition.
"We believe that a peaceful solution to the chaos
caused by the illegal war in Iraq will only be possible when the occupying
foreign armies have all been removed so that the Iraqi people will be free
to decide on their own political future," German added.
The Trafalgar Square demonstration is organized by
Stop the War Coalition in conjunction with the Muslim Association of
Britain and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).
Everywhere
|
Galloway will be among prominent
speakers addressing the marchers in Saturday's
protest.
|
A letter will be signed by the marchers to the United
Nations and the British Attorney General calling for bringing warmongers
to account.
Three years after selling the Iraqi war to the Bush
administration and American public, a number of influential
neo-conservatives admitted Iraq was now more dangerous than before the
invasion-turned-occupation, according to The Independent Thursday,
March 9.
A number of Iraqi expatriates are also planning to
address the marchers about the woes of their homeland under the US-led
occupation.
"They will no doubt express their outrage at the
continuing occupation of their country which has produced yet another
atrocity in Samarra," the release said, referring to the ongoing US
military offensive on the northern Iraqi city.
The US forces, backed by Iraqi troops, launched its
largest air assault on the northern city of Samarra Thursday, March 16, on
claims of clearing "a suspected insurgent operating area".
Support
Iraqi expatriates said the planned London march will
serve efforts for withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq.
"We support the call for world-wide demonstrations on March
18, and the demand for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq, the
dismantling of US bases, and an end to US domination of economic and
social policies and its interference in domestic Iraqi affairs," said a
statement by Iraqi expatriates.
They blamed the US invasion-turned-occupation for the
spiraling insecurity in the occupied country.
"The occupation has nurtured corruption and fostered
gang crime, and it bears primary responsibility for the activities of
murderous sectarian terrorists and criminals."
Iran
The marchers are also planning to protest reports
about potential attacks against Iran over its nuclear program.
"The global demonstrations will also be opposing all
plans that the US and British governments appear to have for
attacking Iran, with incalculable consequences for stability in the Middle
East and security in the world generally."
The Bush administration has been spearheading a
campaign against Tehran over its nuclear program, which Tehran maintains
is only for generating electricity.
The International Atomic Energy Agency on Wednesday,
March 8, decided to send a report on Iran's nuclear activity to the UN
Security Council, clearing the way for an action against Tehran over its
atomic energy drive.
The Washington Post reported on Monday, March 13, that
the Bush administration, resolved on making a regime change in Iran, was
holding closed-door meetings with scholars for advice, creating an Iran
office in Washington and opening listening posts abroad.
Also read: