Last-ditch protests in Washington

Last-ditch protests in Washington

By Steve Schifferes BBC News Online in Washington

Thousands rallied at the Washington monument against war

US anti-war protesters converged on Washington DC on Saturday as President Bush prepared for the final stage of diplomacy with a crisis summit in the Azores.

The president was not in the White House as tens of thousands of protesters rallied at the Washington monument just few hundred yards away before marching in a wide circle around the building.

Simultaneous demonstrations were taking place in San Francisco and other US cities.

The warm weather helped the turnout, and gave a holiday feeling to the proceedings, as dozens of vendors sought to capitalise on the crowds by selling them tee-shirts, buttons, posters, and drinks.

Everything was for sale at the rally

Young marchers poured out of the Metro carrying hand-made signs, older couples with children carried peace balloons with the earth on them, and drummers and bagpipers led a group in an impromptu Irish jig under a nearby tree.

But beneath the sunshine, there was a mood of despair among many of the protesters who felt there was now little chance of stopping a war with Iraq despite a series of large rallies in Washington this year.

We need a regime change in the United States

Democratic Congressman John Conyers

"We don't like this war, and we don't much like President Bush either," said Elaine Klett of Middleboro New Jersey, who had travelled down for the march.

"We didn't chose this president - the Supreme Court did," she added, referring to the bitterly contested 2000 Presidential contest.

Getting personal

Judging from the posters, the attacks on George W Bush were getting more personal, with several people in Bush masks carrying planes.

There were attacks on Mr Bush

Max Ginsberg, a protester from New York City with three generations of his family present, said that Iraq was not a military threat to the US.

"Lots of people will get hurt for no reason. This president is a dictator who is not listening to the people," he told BBC News Online.

Democratic Congressman John Conyers, told the Washington rally:

"We need a regime change in the United States."

Clash with pro-Bush rally

Meanwhile, rallies in support of the President and the US troops were held in other cities in the US, including Atlanta.

There was also a small pro-war rally just opposite the side entrance to the White House, a few lively arguments - and occasional jeers - greeted the demonstrators who walked past.

Some rallied round the President

Dale Chuisanno, who was taking part in the pro-war rally, stood holding a sign saying "Thank you UK" and told the BBC it was important to have real allies who were prepared "to put their money where their mouth is".

He said he was very disillusioned by the actions of countries like Russia and Turkey, and he believed the US should now cut off aid to them.

An Iraqi exile arrived at the pro-war rally, holding up pictures of Saddam's torture victims, while others chanted pro-Bush slogans.

Future plans

The deep divide in the country over the war could get worse.

Many groups are already gearing up for further protests if war breaks out.

A leaflet at the Washington march asked for people to leave work at noon for rallies in their local workplaces if war was declared.

And one of the key anti-war coalition groups - United for Peace and Justice - has called for a week of mass civil disobedience, with sit-ins at key points like military bases, armaments factories, and government offices - which could begin as early as Monday at the Capitol, where Congress meets.

Some groups are even planning to block traffic in places like New York's Times Square.

Already last week, non-violent protesters in San Francisco blockaded the entrance to the Pacific Stock Exchange.

But if war does start, many Americans will feel the need to support the troops as they go into battle.

If fighting is prolonged, it could trigger the same bitterness that split the country during the Vietnam War years.