Thousands demonstrate against Israeli military action

Last updated at 14:54 22 July 2006


Thousands of people around the country demonstrated today against the Israeli military action in Lebanon.

Rallies took place in London and other major cities organised by the main Muslim groups and the Stop The War Coalition.

In London police estimated that about 7,000 people began a march from Whitehall through the centre of the West End, past the United States Embassy and on to Hyde Park.

Figures at the front of the protest included leaders of organisations such as the Muslim Association of Britain and anti-war campaigners like Respect MP George Galloway and writer Tariq Ali.

The vast majority of demonstrators, which included men, women and children, shouted slogans such as "Peace for Lebanon" while carrying banners and a Lebanese national flag.

However a handful of more boisterous protestors chanted "Hezbollah" and "Down down with Israel".

Among the people marching was Alex Pereira, the cousin of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot dead by police officers at Stockwell tube station a year ago today.

He was joined by the two brothers arrested by police following a controversial raid on their house in Forest Gate, east London, earlier this year.

By the time the London protest moved past the US embassy the numbers of demonstrators appeared to have swelled.

At least 50 uniformed police officers stood in the line guarding the entrance to the embassy while metal barricades also prevented the march from accessing the main door.

At one point a group of around a dozen protestors burst from the side of the march and pulled down several of the metal barriers in an apparent attempt to get closer to the building.

Some police officers immediately rushed over but did not appear to arrest anyone, despite several bottles also being thrown at the embassy.

Meanwhile, the remainder of the march shouted vigorously at the embassy with chants such as "George Bush, terrorist" and "down down USA."

Loud boos also echoed from the march as the protestors filed very slowly past, with some stopping for several minutes to wave flags and banners.

A few protestors were carrying the Hezbollah flag which they also waved towards the embassy.

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