Marchers in Paris Protest Iraq War
Several thousand antiwar activists chanted, “No blood for oil,” Saturday as they marched to protest possible military action against Iraq.
Amid a heavy police presence, demonstrators carried a large banner that read “No to war in Iraq; justice and peace in the Middle East,” as they made their way from Place de la Republique to Place de la Nation in eastern Paris.
Police said 6,000 people took part in the protest. Smaller demonstrations were staged in about 30 other cities across France. About 300 people took to the streets of Lyon, while 200 turned out in Marseille, police said.
Green Party lawmaker Noel Mamere told reporters that he hoped the demonstration would “help those in the United States who are criticizing the policies” of President Bush.
Mamere charged that the main goal of the war would be to control oil.
Some protesters carried Palestinian flags and denounced Israel’s policies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
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