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| === GR ORE 13.30 === '''Diritti negati''' Ogni anno quasi 3.500 bambini al di sotto dei 15 anni muoiono in seguito a maltrattamenti e violenze, nei ventisette paesi più ricchi del mondo. A denunciare la triste situazione è l'Unicef, presentando a Ginevra un rapporto elaborato dal Centro di Ricerca Innocenti a Firenze. Il rapporto, che vuole tracciare un quadro comparativo degli abusi fisici subiti dai bambini nel mondo cosiddetto industrializzato, rivela che Messico, Portogallo e Stati Uniti hanno tassi altissimi di mortalità infantile a seguito di maltrattamenti, da 10 a 15 volte maggiori rispetto la media dei Paesi con la migliore situazione. L'Italia, invece, insieme a un ristretto gruppo di paesi, ha un'incidenza molto bassa di maltrattamenti sui bambini. L'Unicef sostiene che la povertà, lo stress, l'abuso di alcool e di stupefacenti sono tra i fattori più strettamente e coerentemente correlati alla violenza e alla trascuratezza nei confronti dei bambini. '''Muro israeliano''' Incontrando ieri a Camp David re Abdallah II di Giordania, George W. Bush non ha avuto una sola parola di condanna nei confronti delle minacce israeliane rivolte al presidente democraticamente eletto dai palestinesi Yasser Arafat. Bush ha ripetuto le solite considerazioni a proposito di Arafat che, a suo avviso, avrebbe "fallito" come leader. Privo della benché minima volontà di cercare una soluzione alla questione israelo-palestinese, che comporterebbe severi provvedimenti nei confronti dello Stato ebraico, irrealistici nel caso di un uomo politico statunitense che ambisce a un secondo mandato presidenziale, l'inquilino della Casa Bianca ha espresso la speranza che emerga un giorno una dirigenza palestinese che sia impegnato al cento per cento nella lotta al terrorismo. '''Israele''' Il tracciato della grande barriera di separazione fra Israele e la Cisgiordania è oggetto di una consultazione ministeriale indetta oggi dal premier Ariel Sharon. In particolare, afferma la stampa israeliana, i ministri dovranno decidere se includere nel tracciato della barriera anche una enclave profonda circa 20 chilometri attorno alla popolosa colonia di Ariel, nella Cisgiordania centrale. La stampa sostiene che in merito il governo israeliano è sottoposto ad energiche pressioni degli Stati Uniti, che si oppongono a quella enclave. Una delle soluzioni di compromesso è di accettare i suggerimenti di Washington (che cioé il tracciato passi il più vicino possibile alla linea di demarcazione in vigore fino al 1967) e che Ariel sia protetta separatamente da un recinto separato. '''Obiezione''' Un número aún desconocido de pilotos de la Fuerza Aérea israelí tiene intención de unirse al movimiento de los soldados que se niegan a servir en los territorios palestinos ocupados y se opondrá a perpetrar los 'asesinatos selectivos', según informa el diario Haaretz. Según el rotativo, que cita a fuentes del movimiento de los disidentes, esos oficiales de la Fuerza Aérea, el cuerpo de mayor prestigio para la opinión pública, llevan tres meses deliberando de puertas adentro. Los pilotos objetores estarían recogiendo "las últimas firmas" antes de hacer su anuncio público, lo que daría gran impulso al movimiento de los que se niegan a cooperar con la represión de los palestinos levantados por su independencia en Cisjordania y la Franja de Gaza. El rotativo de Tel Aviv indica que no se sabe aún si esos objetores de la Fuerza Aérea se plegarán a alguno de los movimiento de disidentes como el denominado 'Coraje de negarse', o si se asociarán en una organización autónoma. Al desencadenarse hace tres años el alzamiento, la 'Intifada de la mezquita de Al Aksa', un piloto de combate se unió a los disidentes, y también hubo casos similares durante la invasión militar de 1982 al Líbano. Pero esta sería la primera vez en que harían pública su protesta y la negativa a cumplir esas "ejecuciones extrajudiciales" de dirigentes y militantes palestinos. '''Palestina''' Vanno avanti intanto le consultazioni per la formazione del nuovo esecutivo dell'Anp. Il nuovo governo palestinese, che sarà nominato congiuntamente dal presidente dell'Anp Yasser Arafat e dal nuovo premier Ahmed Qrei (Abu Ala), comprenderà un sostenitore del movimento integralista Hamas e un esponente riformista appoggiato dagli Stati Uniti. Lo si è appreso da responsabili palestinesi. "Il governo sara' formato la settimana prossima", ha annunciato oggi un responsabile palestinese. La decisione di Al Fatah, la componente maggioritaria dell' Olp, di affidare la nomina del gabinetto, che sara' formato da 24 membri, al presidente e al primo ministro designato significa - secondo gli osservatori - che Arafat, contrariamente agli auspici di Stati Uniti e Israele, manterra' un ruolo di primo piano nel controllo dell'esecutivo e nella politica palestinese. '''Irak''' Mince rayon de soleil dans la journée noire des Américains, l'ancien ministre irakien de la défense, Sultan Hachem Ahmed, n°27 sur la liste des 55 dirigeants du régime déchu les plus recherchés, se serait rendu aux forces américaines à Mossoul. En 24 heures, les forces américaines ont enregistré de lourdes pertes en Irak - onze hommes au total -, qui témoignent de la persistance, voire de l'aggravation, de la situation dans le pays. Trois soldats américains ont en effet été tués et deux autres blessés dans une embuscade jeudi 18 septembre dans la soirée près de Tikrit, ville d'origine du président déchu, Saddam Hussein, a annoncé vendredi un porte-parole militaire américain. Les soldats membres de la 4e division d'infanterie ont été attaqués à huit kilomètres au sud de la ville. L'accrochage s'est produit entre 22 heures et 23 heures locales (entre 20 heures et 21 heures à Paris), ponctuant une lourde journée pour les troupes américaines, marquée notamment par l'attaque d'un convoi à l'ouest de Bagdad et par l'incendie d'un oléoduc dans le nord de l'Irak, au lendemain d'un message attribué à Saddam Hussein appelant à "intensifier la résistance". Selon la chaîne de télévision Al-Arabiya, huit soldats Américains ont été tués dans l'attaque du convoi dans la ville de Khaldiya, à l'ouest de Bagdad. Une manifestation de joie s'est déroulée peu après sur le site de l'attaque pour chanter la gloire de Saddam Hussein. Un témoin, Mahmoud Ali, a indiqué avoir vu huit soldats gravement brûlés évacués du véhicule, tandis qu'un autre témoin, Youssef Ali, a affirmé en avoir vu quatre. Deux civils irakiens ont été blessés lors de tirs ayant suivi cette attaque, selon des témoins. L'armée américaine à Bagdad, tout en indiquant ne pas être au courant d'un tel incident, a fait état de deux blessés plus à l'est dans une attaque à l'explosif et à l'arme automatique contre un convoi. '''Londra''' Le parti travailliste a perdu, jeudi 18 septembre, une élection législative partielle face à l'opposition libérale démocrate, dans un scrutin considéré comme un test de popularité pour Tony Blair après sa décision d'entrer en guerre contre l'Irak et à mi-parcours de son mandat de premier ministre. D'après les résultats rendus publics aux premières heures de vendredi, Sarah Teather, du parti libéral, a été élue représentante de la circonscription de Brent East à la Chambre des communes, avec une majorité de 1 118 voix. A 29 ans, Sarah Teather devient la plus jeune parlementaire en Grande-Bretagne. En 2001, le travailliste Paul Daisley, dont le décès a entraîné ce scrutin partiel, l'avait emporté avec 63 % des suffrages et une avance de plus de 13 000 voix dans cette circonscription du nord de Londres tenue de longue date par le Labour. C'est la première fois depuis quinze ans que le parti travailliste perd une élection partielle. Tony Blair n'avait jamais perdu un siège travailliste lors d'une élection partielle depuis son accession au pouvoir en 1997. Il conserve toutefois une large majorité aux Communes. L'appartenance de Sarah Teather au parti libéral souligne avec acuité la nature du revers enregistré par Tony Blair. Les libéraux s'étaient en effet opposés à l'entrée en guerre de la Grande-Bretagne aux côtés des Etats-Unis en Irak. '''BURUNDI''' BUJUMBURA: COPRIFUOCO E TENSIONE NELLA CAPITALE General General, Standard Da ieri sera è in vigore il coprifuoco notturno (dalle 19 alle 6 del mattino) in tre quartieri periferici a nord di Bujumbura, la capitale del Burundi, dove nella notte sono stati uditi molti spari. Il provvedimento e' stato introdotto a causa degli scontri in corso fuori città tra i due principali gruppi ribelli del Paese africano, le Forze per la difesa della democrazia (Fdd) e le Forze nazionali di liberazione (Fnl). Stando alle autorità amministrative citate i civili in fuga sarebbero oltre trentamila. Ieri è stata riaperta la Strada nazionale 1, la principale via di collegamento del Burundi, chiusa il giorno precedente a causa degli scontri. Larrivo del flusso di sfollati fa crescere la tensione in tutta la capitale, dove stanotte alcune persone sono scomparse, probabilmente prelevate al proprio domicilio da uomini armati. Di loro, per ora, non ci sono tracce. Questi episodi alimentano il timore che i combattimenti in atto tra le due formazioni ribelli possano preludere a un nuovo attacco sulla città. Frange delle Fdd avrebbero ricevuto denaro dallesercito per abbandonare i propri ranghi e rompere leventuale alleanza con le Fnl: sarebbe questa lorigine della battaglia in atto tra le due formazioni armate. Sul piano politico, intanto, il presidente Domitien Ndayizeye, un hutu, ha rassicurato ieri i vertici dellesercito, guidato dai tutsi (che rappresentano circa il 14 per cento della popolazione), illustrando i contenuti dei colloqui avuti nei giorni scorsi a Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) con il leader delle Fdd. La trattativa, per ora, non ha portato ad alcun accordo concreto con la ribellione, ma il capo di Stato ha preferito informare lesercito sul fatto che non cederà alle richieste degli antigovernativi, i quali durante i negoziati hanno chiesto di rappresentare il 40 per cento delle forze armate e di guidare lo Stato maggiore dellesercito. Ieri è stata anche riaperta Radio Insanganiro (che significa Punto di incontro), unemittente privata della capitale, colpevole, secondo il governo, di aver dato voce alla ribellione. Resta chiusa, invece, Radio pubblica africana, altra voce indipendente, di cui il ministro delle comunicazioni Albert Mbonerane ha ordinato la sospensione a tempo indeterminato. Intanto, le altre radio private di Bujumbura, molto seguite dalla popolazione, hanno deciso di mettere fine al boicottaggio della copertura mediatica relativa alle attività di governo, adottato per protestare contro la chiusura di Radio Insanganiro. |
GLOBAL : ENVIRONMENT Sep 28 2003 imc generale ZANZA Reclaim the Streets Car Free Day Stalls in U.S. The recent Car-Free Day in Canada was apparently wide-spread, while European Mobility Week was observed by 289 participating cities in most of Europe. In the U.S. some driver knocked over a cyclist. Welcome to the 21st century where the richest, most autoholic nation on Earth seems oblivious to the threats presented by the internal combustion engine (an invention of the 19th century, no less) while the rest of the world tries to deal with it. But not all industrialized nations are so blind and apathetic. Organizing for European Car Free Day/Mobility Week 2003 involved government, NGO's, and activists. The event was broad-reaching and seemingly effective. Though some feel more effort needs to be made in Central and Eastern Europe, the Czech Republic called attention to the harmfulness of car transport in the city, as well as supporting public transportation, bicycling, and walking, and encouraging a more positive relationship between city dwellers and their environment. Meanwhile, In parts of Asia efforts are underway to foster people-centred, equitable and sustainable transportation. While in Bogota, Colombia Car Free Day is celebrated in February where it briefly prohibited to use a private vehicle in Colombia's capital. It seems obvious many people around the world want to Reclaim the Streets, stop new roads, and challenge the exportation of the the auto-plague to developing nations. Okay, so there were a few Critical Mass bike riders in Portland, Oregon and a few other cities took their Car Free Day actions on their anniversary. Did your city or town have an event? Post it here. Marchers Worldwide Demand Iraq Pullout indy generale ZANZA by AP 1:54am Mon Sep 29 '03 |
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| '''Italia''' Finanziaria. Maroni: nessun allarme sui conti pubblici del 2004 "Non c'è nessun allarme sui conti pubblici del prossimo anno". Ad assicurare che il pericolo per la finanza pubblica nel 2004 non è all'ordine del giorno è il ministro del Welfare Roberto Maroni che, al termine del Consiglio dei Ministri,riferisce che il governo ritiene che non si correrà il rischio di avvicinarsi a un rapporto del 3% e che anche di questo si è parlato ieri durante il vertice. "La nostra - ha detto Maroni - è una manovra che serve a tenere basso qusto rapporto, a differenza di quanto fanno Francia e Germania. Non c'è questo rischio". Secondo indiscrezioni, ieri - nel corso del vertice di maggioranza - il ministro dell'Economia Giulio Tremonti avrebbe sottolineato la situazione piuttosto grave dei nostri conti. Il condono edilizio "Di condono non si è parlato". Il ministro del Welfare, Roberto Maroni, ha affermato che non si è toccato l'argomento e ai giornalisti che gli chiedevano se sarà trattato con un decreto a parte o se sarà introdotto in Finanziaria, ha risposto: "Venerdì prossimo ci sarà il Consiglio dei ministri per la Finanziaria, vedremo". '''LAVORO: NAPOLI, APPELLO AL GOVERNO DEL SINDACO JERVOLINO''' Un rinnovato forte appello e' stato rivolto dal sindaco di Napoli Rosa Russo Jervolino al governo e in particolare ai ministri Maroni, Tremonti e Pisanu, nonche' al sottosegretario Letta, per quanto riguarda il reddito minimo di inserimento. Il sindaco -si legge in una nota diramata dal Comune- ha ricordato al governo che, fin dall'8 gennaio, aderendo alle richieste della delegazione Anci era stata promessa dal ministro Maroni l'istituzione di un tavolo di confronto tra governo ed enti locali per discutere il futuro del Rmi. ''Finora -sottolinea il sindaco- malgrado le numerose sollecitazioni, nulla e' stato fatto e nulla risulta essere in programma''. '''LAVORO 2''' SAN GENNARO DISOCCUPATI IN PIAZZA by P.D. Friday September 19, 2003 at 11:47 AM UN'ARTICOLO DAL NUOVO.IT SAN GENNARO EI DISOCCUPATI IN PIAZZA San Gennaro, disoccupati in piazza Napoli, la cattedrale è blindata. Si teme che le proteste dei senza lavoro interrompano i riti per la solennità del santo patrono. "A chi ha fatto del male ai poveri, San Gennaro penserà. Berlusconi noi crediamo nei miracoli". E' lo striscione che campeggia vicino al Duomo, dove si svolgono le celebrazioni per la solennità di San Gennaro. Accanto alla cattedrale ci sono oltre cento uomini delle forze dell'ordine. Polizia, carabinieri e vigili urbani controllano tutti i varchi d' accesso al perimetro della cattedrale. Alcune sigle, piuttosto eterogenee, di disoccupati (Aderenti all' ex Reddito minimo di inserimento, Lista Storica, Lista Flegrea, Forza Lavoro Disponibile e Movimento di Lotta per il Lavoro) sono pronte a restare in sit-in sul sagrato del duomo. Poco prima delle dieci si è ripetuto il fenomeno della liquefazione del sangue del santo. |
The protests, the first major demonstrations since Saddam Hussein was ousted earlier this year, come as the United States tries to gain international help in rebuilding Iraq. LONDON - Thousands of protesters demanding an end to the occupation of Iraq took to the streets Saturday in London, Athens, Paris and other cities around the world, chanting slogans against the United States and Britain. The protests, the first major demonstrations since Saddam Hussein was ousted earlier this year, come as the United States tries to gain international help in rebuilding Iraq. The demonstrations were organized in each country by local activist groups that have informal contacts with each other. Demonstrators march down Piccadilly, London, September 27, 2003. Thousands marched to Trafalgar Square in a protest against the Allied invasion of Iraq, in a demonstration organised by the Stop the War Coalition. London's was the biggest protest, drawing 20,000 people. Demonstrators turned out in a dozen other countries, including South Korea and Egypt. "No more war. No more lies" proclaimed a banner pinned to the pedestal of Nelson's Column in London's Trafalgar Square, where demonstrators rallied after a march through the city. People of all ages, from gray-haired couples to toddlers in strollers, joined the orderly stream of protesters marching from Hyde Park. Some young marchers chanted, "George Bush, Uncle Sam, Iraq will be your Vietnam!" "I don't believe the war with Iraq was right and the proof is we haven't found any weapons of mass destruction," London protester Emma Loebid, 20, said. "I think they should hand Iraq back to the Iraqis and get the troops out." Demonstrators, including those in London, also added the Palestinian cause to their campaign. Some 3,000 people marched in Paris, where a wide banner read, "American Imperialism: Take your bloody hands off the Middle East." Others held posters that read "Wanted: George W. Bush War Criminal." In Beirut, thousands of Lebanese and Palestinian protesters demanded that U.S. forces leave Iraq and that Israel to stop its attacks in the Palestinian territories. Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, addressed the crowd by phone from his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "Together with you until victory and together until (we liberate) Jerusalem," Arafat said, his voice blaring over loudspeakers. Outside the U.S. Embassy in Athens, demonstrators hurled bottles and yogurt at riot police. About 3,000 protesters, chanting "Occupiers Out" and "Freedom for Palestine," joined the rally. Protests were also staged in other parts of Greece and on island of Crete, outside an American naval base at Souda Bay. The base supports the U.S. 6th Fleet and spy planes. In Spain, thousands of people carrying anti-war banners, banging drums and wearing white smocks marched through the streets of Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Malaga. "Oil kills," read a banner in Madrid. In Seoul, thousands of activists protested a U.S. request to send South Korean troops to Iraq. Protesters chanted "No war!" and carried banners saying "End the occupation in Iraq" and "Oppose a plan to dispatch S. Korean combat troops to Iraq" Some 4,000 protesters in the Turkish capital, Ankara, shouted slogans and unfurled banners to support the Palestinian cause and demand an end to the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq. Hundreds more gathered at a similar rally in Istanbul and burned American and Israeli flags. In downtown Cairo, about 50 political activists and journalists staged a peaceful protest against Israeli attacks and the U.S.-led occupation. In Warsaw, 100 young people protested the Polish military presence in Iraq, marching with banners saying "Down with the global U.S terrorism" and "We don't want to occupy with Bush." An estimated 1,200 demonstrated in Brussels, while about 400 people marched through downtown Berlin. In Stockholm, police said about 250 people staged a demonstration. Opposition to the war has always been strong in Britain. Several large peace protests were held during the war, though none matched a huge rally on Feb. 15, before the conflict began, when between 750,000 and 2 million people marched through central London. Now, questions about Prime Minister Tony Blair's tactics in trying to win public support before invading Iraq have left his government struggling through its worst crisis. The ruling Labor Party is still well ahead of the opposition in opinion polls, but the public's faith in the government and in Blair has eroded. A new poll taken Sept. 11-16 and published Saturday in The Financial Times found 50 percent of those questioned said Blair should step aside. The newspaper did not give the sample size or margin of error. The London protest Saturday was timed for the eve of the governing party's annual conference for "maximum political impact," said Andrew Burgin, spokesman for Stop the War Coalition, one of the rally's organizers. Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, another organizer of Saturday's march, said a big demonstration would send a strong message to the government that the public did not condone what it called "lies" used to justify the war. Twenty-year-old Liban Kahiye, also in London, said, "I don't believe British and American troops should still be in Iraq. Everyday you hear stories of innocent people being killed that's not justice." |
GLOBAL : ENVIRONMENT Sep 28 2003 imc generale ZANZA
Reclaim the Streets Car Free Day Stalls in U.S.
The recent Car-Free Day in Canada was apparently
wide-spread, while European Mobility Week was observed
by 289 participating cities in most of Europe. In the
U.S. some driver knocked over a cyclist. Welcome to the
21st century where the richest, most autoholic nation on
Earth seems oblivious to the threats presented by the
internal combustion engine (an invention of the 19th
century, no less) while the rest of the world tries to
deal with it. But not all industrialized nations are so blind and
apathetic. Organizing for European Car Free Day/Mobility
Week 2003 involved government, NGO's, and activists. The
event was broad-reaching and seemingly effective. Though
some feel more effort needs to be made in Central and
Eastern Europe, the Czech Republic called attention to
the harmfulness of car transport in the city, as well as
supporting public transportation, bicycling, and
walking, and encouraging a more positive relationship
between city dwellers and their environment. Meanwhile,
In parts of Asia efforts are underway to foster
people-centred, equitable and sustainable
transportation. While in Bogota, Colombia Car Free Day
is celebrated in February where it briefly prohibited to
use a private vehicle in Colombia's capital. It seems
obvious many people around the world want to Reclaim the
Streets, stop new roads, and challenge the exportation
of the the auto-plague to developing nations.
Okay, so there were a few Critical Mass bike riders in
Portland, Oregon and a few other cities took their Car
Free Day actions on their anniversary. Did your city or
town have an event? Post it here.
Marchers Worldwide Demand Iraq Pullout indy generale ZANZA by AP 1:54am Mon Sep 29 '03
The protests, the first major demonstrations since
Saddam Hussein was ousted earlier this year, come as the
United States tries to gain international help in
rebuilding Iraq. LONDON - Thousands of protesters demanding an end to the
occupation of Iraq took to the streets Saturday in
London, Athens, Paris and other cities around the world,
chanting slogans against the United States and Britain.
The protests, the first major demonstrations since
Saddam Hussein was ousted earlier this year, come as the
United States tries to gain international help in
rebuilding Iraq. The demonstrations were organized in
each country by local activist groups that have informal
contacts with each other.
Demonstrators march down Piccadilly, London, September
27, 2003. Thousands marched to Trafalgar Square in a
protest against the Allied invasion of Iraq, in a
demonstration organised by the Stop the War Coalition.
London's was the biggest protest, drawing 20,000 people.
Demonstrators turned out in a dozen other countries,
including South Korea and Egypt.
"No more war. No more lies" proclaimed a banner pinned
to the pedestal of Nelson's Column in London's Trafalgar
Square, where demonstrators rallied after a march
through the city. People of all ages, from gray-haired
couples to toddlers in strollers, joined the orderly
stream of protesters marching from Hyde Park.
Some young marchers chanted, "George Bush, Uncle Sam,
Iraq will be your Vietnam!"
"I don't believe the war with Iraq was right and the
proof is we haven't found any weapons of mass
destruction," London protester Emma Loebid, 20, said. "I
think they should hand Iraq back to the Iraqis and get
the troops out."
Demonstrators, including those in London, also added the
Palestinian cause to their campaign.
Some 3,000 people marched in Paris, where a wide banner
read, "American Imperialism: Take your bloody hands off
the Middle East." Others held posters that read "Wanted:
George W. Bush War Criminal."
In Beirut, thousands of Lebanese and Palestinian
protesters demanded that U.S. forces leave Iraq and that
Israel to stop its attacks in the Palestinian
territories.
Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, addressed the
crowd by phone from his headquarters in the West Bank
city of Ramallah.
"Together with you until victory and together until (we
liberate) Jerusalem," Arafat said, his voice blaring
over loudspeakers.
Outside the U.S. Embassy in Athens, demonstrators hurled
bottles and yogurt at riot police. About 3,000
protesters, chanting "Occupiers Out" and "Freedom for
Palestine," joined the rally.
Protests were also staged in other parts of Greece and
on island of Crete, outside an American naval base at
Souda Bay. The base supports the U.S. 6th Fleet and spy
planes.
In Spain, thousands of people carrying anti-war banners,
banging drums and wearing white smocks marched through
the streets of Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Malaga.
"Oil kills," read a banner in Madrid.
In Seoul, thousands of activists protested a U.S.
request to send South Korean troops to Iraq. Protesters
chanted "No war!" and carried banners saying "End the
occupation in Iraq" and "Oppose a plan to dispatch S.
Korean combat troops to Iraq"
Some 4,000 protesters in the Turkish capital, Ankara,
shouted slogans and unfurled banners to support the
Palestinian cause and demand an end to the U.S.-led
occupation of Iraq. Hundreds more gathered at a similar
rally in Istanbul and burned American and Israeli flags.
In downtown Cairo, about 50 political activists and
journalists staged a peaceful protest against Israeli
attacks and the U.S.-led occupation.
In Warsaw, 100 young people protested the Polish
military presence in Iraq, marching with banners saying
"Down with the global U.S terrorism" and "We don't want
to occupy with Bush."
An estimated 1,200 demonstrated in Brussels, while about
400 people marched through downtown Berlin. In
Stockholm, police said about 250 people staged a
demonstration.
Opposition to the war has always been strong in Britain.
Several large peace protests were held during the war,
though none matched a huge rally on Feb. 15, before the
conflict began, when between 750,000 and 2 million
people marched through central London.
Now, questions about Prime Minister Tony Blair's tactics
in trying to win public support before invading Iraq
have left his government struggling through its worst
crisis. The ruling Labor Party is still well ahead of
the opposition in opinion polls, but the public's faith
in the government and in Blair has eroded.
A new poll taken Sept. 11-16 and published Saturday in
The Financial Times found 50 percent of those questioned
said Blair should step aside. The newspaper did not give
the sample size or margin of error.
The London protest Saturday was timed for the eve of the
governing party's annual conference for "maximum
political impact," said Andrew Burgin, spokesman for
Stop the War Coalition, one of the rally's organizers.
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, another organizer of
Saturday's march, said a big demonstration would send a
strong message to the government that the public did not
condone what it called "lies" used to justify the war.
Twenty-year-old Liban Kahiye, also in London, said, "I
don't believe British and American troops should still
be in Iraq. Everyday you hear stories of innocent people
being killed that's not justice."