Thousands of anti-war demonstrators march against possible U.S. military action against Iraq

LONDON - Waving placards and chanting slogans, thousands of anti-war demonstrators marched through central London Saturday, calling on Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) to steer the United States away from military action against Iraq.


The "Don't Start Wars" protest was arranged by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament amid mounting speculation that U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) is planning to launch an offensive against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s regime.

"It is no good demonizing Saddam Hussein. He's not a nice man but demonizing a country is a different matter," Labor lawmaker Tam Dalyell told demonstrators, who gathered in Trafalgar Square carrying signs reading "Don't Attack Iraq" and "War Is Not The Answer."

Dalyell, a veteran and very vocal backbench member of Blair's governing Labor Party, insisted the dispute over U.N. weapons inspectors being allowed back into Iraq must be resolved through diplomacy.