The international protests

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated across Europe and the Middle East yesterday against the US-led occupation of Iraq and to voice support for the Palestinians. Among the co-ordinated global protests, from Seoul to Spain and San Francisco, the largest rally took place in London, with more than 20,000 demonstrators. Demonstrations, attracting leading politicians, also took place in France, Belgium, Austria, Greece, Poland, Turkey and Lebanon. The war has "always been about oil and always (will) cost the lives of innocent Arab men, women and children", London's mayor and Labour dissident Ken Livingstone told the thousands gathered in Trafalagar Square. The international protests were the first major demonstrations since the fall of Saddam Hussein in April.