Iraq war protesters mark tenth anniversary

By ALAN JONES
Published on 07/01/2013 00:00

A SERIES of events will be held next month to mark the tenth anniversary of the huge anti-war protests, when millions of people took to the streets to voice their opposition to military action against Iraq.

Organisers of the demonstrations in February 2003 estimated that more than two million people took part, with many not even making it to the start of the main march in central London because of the huge numbers involved.

Students, pensioners and families joined veteran anti-war campaigners in a day-long protest.

A conference will be held in London on 9 February to discuss the aftermath of the war, organised by the Stop the War coalition.

Convener Lindsey German said: “Ten years on, the British government has learnt nothing from the war in Iraq. Troops are dying in an unwinnable and unnecessary war in Afghanistan.

“Foreign Secretary William Hague is itching to attack Syria and Iran.

“It is the ordinary people of these countries who pay the price for war, and people in Britain are being told to put up with austerity, health and benefit cuts at home while there is unlimited money for wars abroad.”