Thousands demonstrate against Iraq war

More than 3,000 anti-war demonstrators marched peacefully through central London today calling on UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to steer the United States away from military action against Iraq.

The protest was arranged by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament amid mounting speculation that US President George W Bush is planning to launch an offensive against Iraq.

Earlier on Saturday, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, urged Britain and America not to take any action against Iraq which would lead to further violence in the Middle East.

The Cardinal was speaking ahead of Mr Blair's visit to Texas next week to discuss the Iraqi situation with President Bush.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service