Thai Muslims rally against Iraq war

The protesters called for a boycott of US products

Hundreds of Thai Muslims gathered outside the United States embassy in Bangkok on Thursday, to protest against the US threat of war against Iraq.

The group, which calls itself "Muslims for Peace", shouted slogans against US President George Bush, and called for a boycott of American products.

We want to denounce the United States for its unfair treatment of Iraq

Bureed Timasen, Muslims for Peace

The protesters accused America and its allies of not making enough effort to avert war, and said the US seemed to be more willing to negotiate with North Korea than Iraq.

In a written statement to embassy officials, they said: "As soon as war breaks out we 'Muslims for Peace' will take all possible peaceful measures to stop the war".

Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist nation, but in the southern provinces bordering Malaysia, Muslims make up the majority.

Powell's speech denounced

The protesters carried placards reading "No more blood for oil", and "Stop the crazy in the White House", and they condemned US Secretary of State Colin Powell's address to the United Nations on Wednesday as "a lie".

Colin Powell told the UN there was clear evidence of Iraqi non-compliance

In the address, Mr Powell set out what he said was clear evidence that Iraq was defying demands for it to disarm.

He also accused the Iraqis of "concealing their efforts to produce more weapons of mass destruction".

"America is a liar, if you saw last night's statement by Colin Powell," said Bureed Timasen, a leader of the Bangkok-based group. "We want to denounce the United States for its unfair treatment of Iraq."

The protesters also condemned the human cost of a war.

"The most severe impact of a military assault on Iraq would be on its already suffering civilian population," they said in the statement.