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Sydney joins anti-war protests
The Australian Government strongly backs US President George W Bush's tough line on Iraq.
But the Sydney protest is the largest seen in the city since the days of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, and the BBC correspondent there says there is deep cynicism among the crowds about American intentions in pursuing Saddam Hussein.
But the Sydney protest is the largest seen in the city since the days of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, and the BBC correspondent there says there is deep cynicism among the crowds about American intentions in pursuing Saddam Hussein.
Sunday, 16 February, 2003, 03:47 GMT
Australia joins anti-war protests
A huge protest against a possible US-led war in Iraq is under way in the Australian city of Sydney.
It is the latest in a series of peace rallies around the world this weekend.
The Australian Government strongly backs US President George W Bush's tough line on Iraq.
But the Sydney protest is the largest seen in the city since the days of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, and the BBC correspondent there says there is deep cynicism among the crowds about American intentions in pursuing Saddam Hussein.
Saturday saw massive marches in New York, London, Paris, Berlin and many other cities worldwide.
An estimated one million people marched in the British capital to show opposition to Prime Minister Tony Blair, who - like Australia's John Howard - is a close ally of President Bush.
The weekend of demonstrations come after Friday's UN Security Council session, where chief weapons inspector Hans Blix issued a largely positive assessment of the UN's disarmament process in Iraq.
'War about oil'
Mr Howard returned from Indonesia on Sunday, where he had reiterated his support for military action against Iraq.
"What I'm doing here is what I think is right for Australia," he said.
"This is not something where you read each opinion poll or you measure the number of people at demonstrations."
He had told Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, head of the most populous Muslim nation in the world, that "there is no anti-Islamic component in our attitude towards Iraq".
After 150,000 rallied for peace in Melbourne on Friday, Mr Howard will be confronted with protests in Brisbane, Darwin and Adelaide, as well as Sydney.
'Not too late'
Addressing a massive crowd in Hyde Park, London mayor Ken Livingstone said: "This is all Britain standing together regardless of age, race or sex".
"This war is solely about oil. (US President) George Bush has never given a damn about human rights," he said.
Veteran US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson told the Hyde Park rally that "it is not too late to stop this war".
The protesters marched under a sea of multi-coloured banners and slogans such as "No War On Iraq" and "Make Tea, Not War".
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has suffered a fall in popularity following his staunch support of US plans to launch military action against Saddam Hussein.
In New York, celebrities and activists such as Susan Sarandon, Danny Glover, South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and black activist Angela Davis attended a peace rally near the United Nations headquarters.
Mr Tutu, addressing an estimated crowd of at least 100,000 people, said that those who wished to wage war on Iraq "must know it would be an immoral war".
Middle East anger
Demonstrations were also held in cities across the Middle East, including Israel, and in East Asia on Saturday.
In a rare sign of unity, 3,000 Jews and Arabs marched together in Tel Aviv.
Officials reported at least one million people marched in the streets of Baghdad, while in the Syrian capital of Damascus more than 200,000 people marched, with one banner carrying the slogan "Axis of Evil: America, Britain, Israel".
In Seoul - capital of South Korea, one of the staunchest US allies in Asia - hundreds of demonstrators rallied, shouting chants such as "Bush, Terrorist!" and carrying banners urging "Drop Bush, not bombs".
In Malaysia - a predominantly Muslim state - hundreds demonstrated outside the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur. despite a police ban on the demonstration.
Officers eventually persuaded the crowd to move on peacefully while colleagues in riot gear stood by.
The Malaysian Government has been a strong critic of US policy towards Iraq.
However its opponents claim that it wants to channel support for the anti-war movement into a government backed Malaysians for Peace campaign.
In Singapore, where public demonstrations are not permitted, two women were moved on by police after a brief protest against war in Iraq outside the US embassy.
In Thailand about 2,000 people - mostly Muslims - rallied in front of the US and UK embassies in the capital on Saturday.
© BBC MMIII
Australia joins anti-war protests
A huge protest against a possible US-led war in Iraq is under way in the Australian city of Sydney.
It is the latest in a series of peace rallies around the world this weekend.
The Australian Government strongly backs US President George W Bush's tough line on Iraq.
But the Sydney protest is the largest seen in the city since the days of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, and the BBC correspondent there says there is deep cynicism among the crowds about American intentions in pursuing Saddam Hussein.
Saturday saw massive marches in New York, London, Paris, Berlin and many other cities worldwide.
An estimated one million people marched in the British capital to show opposition to Prime Minister Tony Blair, who - like Australia's John Howard - is a close ally of President Bush.
The weekend of demonstrations come after Friday's UN Security Council session, where chief weapons inspector Hans Blix issued a largely positive assessment of the UN's disarmament process in Iraq.
'War about oil'
Mr Howard returned from Indonesia on Sunday, where he had reiterated his support for military action against Iraq.
"What I'm doing here is what I think is right for Australia," he said.
"This is not something where you read each opinion poll or you measure the number of people at demonstrations."
He had told Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, head of the most populous Muslim nation in the world, that "there is no anti-Islamic component in our attitude towards Iraq".
After 150,000 rallied for peace in Melbourne on Friday, Mr Howard will be confronted with protests in Brisbane, Darwin and Adelaide, as well as Sydney.
'Not too late'
Addressing a massive crowd in Hyde Park, London mayor Ken Livingstone said: "This is all Britain standing together regardless of age, race or sex".
"This war is solely about oil. (US President) George Bush has never given a damn about human rights," he said.
Veteran US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson told the Hyde Park rally that "it is not too late to stop this war".
The protesters marched under a sea of multi-coloured banners and slogans such as "No War On Iraq" and "Make Tea, Not War".
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has suffered a fall in popularity following his staunch support of US plans to launch military action against Saddam Hussein.
In New York, celebrities and activists such as Susan Sarandon, Danny Glover, South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and black activist Angela Davis attended a peace rally near the United Nations headquarters.
Mr Tutu, addressing an estimated crowd of at least 100,000 people, said that those who wished to wage war on Iraq "must know it would be an immoral war".
Middle East anger
Demonstrations were also held in cities across the Middle East, including Israel, and in East Asia on Saturday.
In a rare sign of unity, 3,000 Jews and Arabs marched together in Tel Aviv.
Officials reported at least one million people marched in the streets of Baghdad, while in the Syrian capital of Damascus more than 200,000 people marched, with one banner carrying the slogan "Axis of Evil: America, Britain, Israel".
In Seoul - capital of South Korea, one of the staunchest US allies in Asia - hundreds of demonstrators rallied, shouting chants such as "Bush, Terrorist!" and carrying banners urging "Drop Bush, not bombs".
In Malaysia - a predominantly Muslim state - hundreds demonstrated outside the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur. despite a police ban on the demonstration.
Officers eventually persuaded the crowd to move on peacefully while colleagues in riot gear stood by.
The Malaysian Government has been a strong critic of US policy towards Iraq.
However its opponents claim that it wants to channel support for the anti-war movement into a government backed Malaysians for Peace campaign.
In Singapore, where public demonstrations are not permitted, two women were moved on by police after a brief protest against war in Iraq outside the US embassy.
In Thailand about 2,000 people - mostly Muslims - rallied in front of the US and UK embassies in the capital on Saturday.
© BBC MMIII
For more information:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/27...
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