London: dozens protest against Iraq war

Dozens of protesters have gathered outside Downing Street to demand an end to fighting in Najaf and the withdrawal of coalition troops from Iraq.

Members of the Stop the War Coalition, the Muslim Association of Britain and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament gathered to wave banners and chant, "George Bush out of Najaf".

Former Labour MP George Galloway attended the protest against what he called the "massacre" in the city of Najaf and the wider war in Iraq.

"Our young men, three of whom have died in a week, are being asked to hold the line which is thin and in danger of being overwhelmed," he said. "The one thing that is certain is that the people who caused this cannot be the people who solve it."

Mr Galloway condemned the "puppet" government in Iraq and said that it should be up to the Iraqis how they ran their country. He said the British Government’s actions would be judged in upcoming elections.

Ahmed Sheikh, leader of the Muslim Association of Britain, said the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf was very important to Shia Muslims and should be shown respect.

"We are asking the US government to stop killing civilians, to get out of Iraq and to solve Iraq’s problems through dialogue," he said.

The US military says the fighting in Najaf has killed hundreds of militants although that is denied by the insurgents. Eight US soldiers and at least 40 Iraqi police have been killed as well.

The fighting in Najaf, especially near the shrine, has angered many among the country’s majority Shiite population.

John Rees, one of the founders of the Stop the War Coalition, said continuing demonstrations were important because the protest movement was one of the few ways people could express opposition to the government. (AP)

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