Campaigners step up war protests

Campaigners step up war protests

Rallies marked the first weekend of war

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in anti-war protests across Scotland.

Demonstrations have taken place in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness.

In Glasgow there were six arrests and demonstrators complained after being penned in by police in the city centre.

In Edinburgh 400 people protesed outside a police station where five demonstrators were being held.

Police chiefs blamed any trouble on splinter tactics by a small group of protesters.

Campaigners organised marches and rallies across the country to mark the first weekend of the outbreak of hostilities.

It was a day of shame when Britain and America waged war on Iraq without the support of the international community, the United Nations and the British people.

Mohammed Sarwar
Labour MP

Approximately 5,000 people marched through Glasgow city centre, with many staging a sit-down protest in the street around George Square.

Among those who addressed the crowd was Mohammed Sarwar, Labour MP for Glasgow Govan.

He said: "It was a day of shame when Britain and America waged war on Iraq without the support of the international community, the United Nations and the British people.

"We believe this war is unjust and illegal."

Following the march police stopped demonstrators on Renfield Street, St Vincent Street and Sauchiehall Street at Charing Cross.

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said the move was to stop civil disobedience and prevent protesters trying to get onto the M8 motorway.

One girl, who did not want to be named, was clearly distressed, telling police officers that her five-year-old sister was inside the cordon but she was not allowed access inside.

Police block protesters from the M8

In Edinburgh about 4,000 demonstrators marched from Parliament Square along Princes Street to the American consulate.

They then gathered outside Bute House, the official residence of First Minister Jack McConnell.

Edinburgh Stop the War Coalition spokesman Mick Napier said: "The number of people turning up to day-time protests has been utterly unprecedented.

"It is absolutely preposterous. B52s are in the air. These are weapons of mass destruction and every bomb takes out an area the size of a football field."

Demonstrators also took to the streets of Inverness and Aberdeen.

In Dundee, where the Scottish Labour Party was holding its annual conference around 500 protesters gathered outside the conference venue Caird Hall following a march through the city.

The war was wrong three months ago, it's wrong now and it will be wrong long after it's finished.

Irene McGugan
SNP MSP

They heard from various speakers including politicians and representatives from the Christian and Muslim faiths.

Irene McGugan, SNP regional MSP for North East Scotland, said: "People ask what the point of protest is now the war has started.

"The war was wrong three months ago, it's wrong now and it will be wrong long after it's finished."

Around 350 people staged an anti-war rally in Aberdeen city centre, while police in Inverness said around 50 demonstrators had staged a protest at Falcon Square.

Scotland saw a number of anti-war protests on Thursday, when campaigners took to the streets of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Lerwick, Dundee, Inverness and Stirling.