British marchers urge end to Lebanon war

5 August 2006



LONDON - Thousands marched through London to demand a halt to the Lebanon war on Saturday as the British government tried to deflect criticism that it has failed to call for an immediate ceasefire.


Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government has come under fire at home for following US President George W. Bush’s lead on the conflict between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas and refusing to call for an immediate halt to hostilities.

Thousands of demonstrators marched through central London holding placards reading “End Israeli crimes in Lebanon” and ”Freedom for Palestine”. Police said around 15,000 people were marching but organisers put the number at more than 100,000.

The Stop the War Coalition, a group formed to oppose the U.S.-led “war on terror” which helped organise the march, urged demonstrators to pile children’s shoes near Blair’s residence in protest at the death of children in the war.

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on how many were marching.