Thousands of people took to the streets around Parliament on Saturday to voice their opposition to the disastrous war on Iraq, as the fifth anniversary of the invasion approaches.

Coaches from all around the country poured in to join the demonstration, organised by British Muslim Initiative, Stop the War Coalition and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.Paris to Sydney, Washington to Istanbul, as part of the World Against War week of global protests calling for an immediate end to the incessant destruction and devastation in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine. They were joined by tens of other anti-war demonstrations around the world, from

The vibrant protest brought together people from trade unions, schools, political parties, environmental groups and peace movements calling for an immediate end to the illegal military occupation of Iraq which has led to the killing of over a million Iraqis in the past 5 years and the displacement of 4 million, belying the US and British governments repeated empty promises of liberation and peace.

Green MEP Caroline Lucas called for the Prime Minister and his predecessor to be prosecuted for war crimes. She said: "Tony Blair and Gordon Brown should be tried for war crimes at the international court in the Hague. They need to know you cannot bomb your way to peace."

The fifth anniversary of the invasion also marks five years since the massive anti-war march of 15 February 2003, a historic achievement made possible only by a unique and powerful mass movement that has brought British people of all backgrounds and walks of life together to oppose endless futile wars that have wrought destruction on millions of innocent people and made the world a far more dangerous place. 

Dr. Azzam Tamimi said, “Everything we said has been proven right. Look at Iraq – four million Iraqi people have been banished from their homes. Let alone those who have been killed; let alone those who have been wounded…Look at the hypocrisy of these liberal hypocrisies. When for 5 full days Israel bombarded the Palestinians, from the air from the sea and from the ground they did not speak.”

The demonstration also voiced widespread anger at appalling Israeli actions in Gaza in past months and the killing of over 130 Palestinians while the British government remained silent.

Protestors observed a minute of silence to remember the victims of the occupation and called for an immediate end to the brutal siege and for freedom and justice for the long-suffering Palestinian people who this year commemorate 60 years of suffering, dispossession and forced exile.