Iraq tops bill at Brazil forum

The forum is putting forward an anti-war message

Five hundred legislators visiting Porto Alegre, Brazil, for the third World Social Forum have agreed to work to avoid war in Iraq.

They are some of the 120,000 visitors to the largest city in Brazil's south for the anti-globalisation movement's answer to the meeting of business leaders and politicians in the Swiss town of Davos.

Iraq and the Palestinian issue were primary concerns on the march

The huge gathering - which has doubled in size since last year - usually focuses on issues concerning globalisation and capitalism.

However, along with the election of Workers' Party candidate Luis Inacio Lula da Silva ("Lula") in Brazil, the brewing conflict in Iraq and continuing Israeli-Palestine crisis have commanded most attention this year.

The lawmakers said they would call for action on both issues "on a legislative level and in concert with social movements".

'Carnival'

"Lula and [Yasser] Arafat were the big heroes at the opening march," said Ralph Smith, tending a bookstall.

French anti-capitalist hero Jose Bovey is there

The march, attended by up to 150,000 protesters, kicked off the forum, which runs from 23 to 28 January.

"It was like a carnival," said Mr Smith. "Here, third-world forces are coming together in opposition to capitalism. And it's a lot of fun!"

According to the BBC's Sue Branford, there are over 1,000 Americans at this year's conference - the largest contingent of foreign participants.

Organisers of the forum estimate that about 1,700 events will take place over the four days.

Message to Davos

Well-known critics of capitalism, such as Noam Chomsky and the French activist Susan George, will attend along with political figures such as Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and French Education Minister Luc Ferry.

The highlight for many is a speech by the new Brazilian president on Friday evening.

Art exhibits emphasised profits over people

After his speech, Lula will fly to Davos - and has promised participants he will take their message with him.

"Just as a new social contract is needed in Brazil, a global pact is needed to reduce the distance between rich and poor countries," he said in a statement.

His message to Davos, he said, would be that "rich nations need to distribute the planet's wealth".