New York: As United States calls for a strike against Iraq grew shrill, cries
against war grew shriller across the globe as more than six million people took to
streets in 600 towns and cities on February 16 calling for restraint on the part of
US.
Massive anti-war rallies with people of all hues and ages holding posters ridiculing
US President George Bush's policy on Iraq were held in several American cities as
also Sydney, London, Berlin, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur, much to
the delight of Baghdad.
In Sydney, more than two lakh people, some bearing banners asking "how many lives
per litre," poured on to the roads protesting the Australian government's policy
supporting US stand on a strike against Iraq.
"We want our Prime Minister to listen to us," read another banner expressing
resentment against John Howard's support to US. Australia, a staunch ally of US has
despatched 2,000 troops to the Gulf.
An estimated 37,500 demonstrators converged near the United Nations to protest the
possible war against Baghdad, but were held back by police barricades.
A giant puppet depicting Bush, holding buckets of blood and oil towered over the
cheering crowd as the main demo spilled over 20 blocks.
Besides anti-war protests in large cities like Los Angeles, California, Chicago and
Illinois, huge demonstrations – not seen since the Vietnam war- were also held in
smaller towns such as Alaska, Georgia and Macomb on February 15.
The largest protests were witnessed in Europe. Estimates ranged from three lakh in
France, to five lakh in Germany, one million in Italy and two million in Spain.
PTI
