Thousands Converge In U.K. To Protest War

Anti-war protesters converged on London Saturday to call on Prime Minister Tony Blair to withdraw all of Britain's troops from Iraq and voice fears over a potential conflict with Iran.

A few thousand people joined the march through the rainy capital, according to initial police counts. That was far fewer than the numbers predicted by organizers, who hoped to top the several hundred thousand people who turned out for a 2004 London rally to contest Britain's role in the March 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

Blair said Wednesday that Britain would withdraw around 1,600 troops from Iraq over the coming months and aims to cut its 7,100 troop level to below 5,000 by late summer — if Iraqi forces can secure the southern part of the country.

"Whether 2,000 troops come home this year or not, it is too little too late and we must intensify our call for all troops to be withdrawn now and for Britain to break the link with George Bush's foreign policy," said Lindsey German, head of the Stop The War Coalition, which organized the demonstration. "We think that the announcement that some troops will be withdrawn has made people more determined to join the demonstration."

She said marchers were also protesting Blair's plans for a new multi-billion dollar nuclear missile defense system.

Lawmakers are due to vote later this year on Blair's recommendation to replace Britain's four nuclear-powered submarines, which are each capable of carrying up to 16 nuclear-armed Trident missiles and expected to end their operational life by 2024.

"It hasn't just been about Trident, it has been about getting rid of American bases from British territory, because as long as we have their bases, we are going to be saddled with their weaponry and their illegal war fighting and I think we have to sever that," protester Helen John told British broadcast Sky News.

Among the speakers at the rally in London were former Labour politician and veteran peace activist Tony Benn and London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

The speakers in London, and at a second demonstration in Glasgow, Scotland, also voiced fears the United States and Britain could take military action against Iran over its contentious nuclear programme.

The U.S. and some allies claim Tehran is using a civilian energy programme as a cover to develop nuclear weapons — an allegation that Iran denies.

"We have had Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, it's been a remarkable demonstration," said George Galloway, leader of the Respect party, told Sky News.

But Galloway suggested that even with the departure of Blair from 10 Downing Street later this year, his expected successor Gordon Brown may not mean a change in policy.

"I have to tell you, Mister Brown and Mister Blair are two cheeks of the same backside, there's no difference," he said. "They are both going to support policies of war and privatization, and until we make a break from that, things are not going to get better in the world. So, Mister Blair will be gone soon, but unless the policy changes, our movement will have to keep on marching."

Blair on Wednesday rejected suggestions a military conflict was likely. "No one wants to resolve the issue with Iran in anything other than a diplomatic way," Blair told lawmakers. "No one is looking for confrontation with Iran."