Thousands Protest over Iraq, Afghanistan in London, Glasgow

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Source: AFP

Thousands protest over Iraq, Afghanistan in London, Glasgow

Thousands of protesters gathered in London and Glasgow Saturday ahead of the fifth anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq, calling for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the capital, activists rallied at Trafalgar Square before marching the short distance to parliament while in Glasgow, demonstrators walked from the city centre to the Glasgow Green park on the banks of the River Clyde. Police in London said there were 10,000 on the streets but organisers the Stop the War Coalition put the crowds at between 30,000 to 40,000.

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A number of demonstrations are taking place around the world as the fifth anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq on March 20 approaches. In London, where an estimated one million people marched through the streets about a month before the war in 2003, there were also calls against attacking Iran over its disputed nuclear programme and for an end to the "siege" of Gaza.

The veteran left-winger and former Labour Party lawmaker, Tony Benn, said Britain's involvement in Iraq, where the country has 4,100 troops, and Afghanistan, where it has 7,800, had caused "devastation".

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