CND celebrates 50th anniversary

They are attending a two-day summit at London's City Hall where speakers include peace activist Bianca Jagger.

CND launched on 17 February 1958 in response to fears across Europe about possible nuclear conflict.

Last March the government won Commons support for plans to renew Trident, Britain's nuclear submarine system despite a rebellion by Labour MPs.

Russian President Vladimir Putin this week repeated his threat to target missiles at neighbouring states if they site elements of the planned US missile shield.

CND's chairwoman Kate Hudson said delegates at the London summit wanted to lay the groundwork for negotiating a global ban on the weapons.

Peace march

She said: "To some that may be a distant dream, but it was exactly this kind of vision that allowed the ban on landmines to be rapidly negotiated several years ago.

"This weekend, exactly half a century since Bertrand Russell and others addressed our founding meeting, will help bring us closer to the day when governments begin substantive negotiations on a nuclear weapons convention, currently lodged at the UN."

Other speakers at CND's inaugural public meeting in Westminster's Central Hall included AJP Taylor, JB Priestley and Michael Foot.

CND members also plan a protest at the Aldermaston Weapons Establishment on Easter Monday on the 50th anniversary of the first peace march to the site.

They are helping to organise a national demonstration on March 15 to mark the fifth anniversary of the conflict in Iraq.

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