[R-G] UK branded 'a disgrace' in Iraq

[Anthony Fenton]

UK branded 'a disgrace' in Iraq

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hM9itMNG2Hr3fzQjKVSvWSKF0XFA

The Government has been branded a "disgrace" for continuing to be  
involved in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan on the fifth  
anniversary of the huge anti-war demonstration.

The oldest and youngest people on the original march five years ago  
in London joined a delegation handing in a letter to 10 Downing  
Street calling for British troops to be withdrawn.

Leaders of CND, the Stop The War Coalition, MPs and peace activists  
including Bianca Jagger, walked up Downing Street to hand in the  
letter to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Among the delegation was Alicia Marr, 36, who was 33 weeks pregnant  
with her son Alfie when she took part in the march.

Holding Alfie's hand she said: "I felt it was very important to join  
the march because of my sense of frustration that we were being led  
in to an illegal war with huge implications for generations to come.

"I feel even more frustrated today because Iraq is a terrible mess  
which is ruining the lives of Iraqi children."

Hetty Bower, 102, from north London, said she remembers vividly the  
huge anti-war demonstration that attracted between one and two  
million protestors.

"I have walked on every march against us going to war because I am  
against war but this is a particularly horrible war. We have no  
business to be in Iraq. This was the biggest demonstration of my long  
life and I am proud I took part."

Kate Hudson, chairwoman of CND said: "Tony Blair became exceptionally  
unpopular because of his lies over Iraq. We had great hope that  
Gordon Brown would pull the troops out and recognise the huge  
majority of public sentiment against the occupation. But five years  
on we are still waiting for a British Prime Minister to act."

The group handed in a letter which said it was a "disgrace" that the  
Government continued to participate in the conflict in Iraq.