Anti-war protesters stage rally in Dublin

Several hundred people attended an anti-war rally in Dublin today to mark the fifth anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq…

Several hundred people attended an anti-war rally in Dublin today to mark the fifth anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq.

The demonstration was part of the World Against War global protests in over 50 cities.

In an address to the rally, Labour's foreign affairs spokesman Michael D Higgins called on the government to halt flights by the US military through Shannon Airport.

Mr Higgins said a report, published yesterday by Amnesty International, indicated that Ireland was contravening international law by allowing its territory to be used to facilitate extraordinary rendition.

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He criticised the US-led attack on Iraq as an illegal war whose invasion did not receive approval from the UN, and did not have a UN mandate.

Amnesty based its allegation on a report into the case of a Saudi man who was held without charge in secret CIA prisons for over two-and-a-half years.

Khaled al Maqtari claims he was subjected to torture and other forms of cruel and inhumane treatment while being held in unknown locations and in isolation from 2004 to 2007.

An Amnesty report into his case found that Shannon airport was used as a refuelling stop by the plane that took him from Iraq - where he was initially arrested - to Kabul, where he was incarcerated in a CIA prison.

Amnesty International Irish section executive director Colm O'Gorman said: "There can no longer be any doubt that Shannon is being used by those involved in kidnapping and torture, dressed up as part of a war on terror.