Anti-war rally against bombing

The US-led military campaign is continuing

Hundreds of protesters have staged an anti-war protest in Scotland against the military campaign in Afghanistan.

About 500 protesters formed a human chain around the Ministry of Defence in Kentigern House, Argyle Street, Glasgow, before staging a rally in the city's George Square.

It's counter-productive and it's probably going to fuel terrorism, so we're calling for the war to stop

Alan MacKinnon, chairman of Coalition for Justice Not War

The protest came as US warplanes attacked Taleban positions north of Kabul in daylight raids.

MSPs Lloyd Quinan and Dennis Canavan and representatives from the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland were among those who addressed the crowd.

The event was organised by the Coalition for Justice Not War.

Campaign mounting

The group's chairman Alan MacKinnon said the protest showed public opinion was turning against the military action.

"All the signs are that the campaign is growing and that more and more people are very concerned about the war.

"It's not achieving its objectives and at the same time hundreds of civilians are dying for little reason other than some kind of vengeance in response to the attacks in New York and Washington.

"It's counter-productive and it's probably going to fuel terrorism, so we're calling for the war to stop."

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said the rally had passed off without incident.