Opposition to war: Thousands of people are expected to take part in a series of anti-war protest marches in the coming days.
Organisers of a rally in Dublin on Saturday expect a turnout of about 5,000, while similar events are to be staged in other centres.
Candlelit vigils are being planned in many towns around the country this evening, if war has been declared by then, as part of an agreement by anti-war groups to hold protests on the day war starts.
The Dublin protest will be held outside the US embassy in Ballsbridge. If a large crowd attends, there will be a march to the nearby British embassy.
The Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA), the Irish Anti-War Movement and the NGO Alliance are organising Saturday's march through Dublin city centre.
Those wishing to take part have been asked to assemble at the Central Bank in Dame Street at 2 p.m. The march will pass by College Green and head down Nassau Street. It will continue past Leinster House in Kildare Street and on to Merrion Street.
The protesters will stop at Government Buildings, which houses the Taoiseach's office. A rally will take place there and the crowd is expected to have dispersed by about 5 p.m.
Mr Roger Cole of PANA said the rally was targeting the Taoiseach's office because Mr Ahern was "leading this country into war" by allowing Shannon to be used by the US military.
"By supporting Bush, Bertie Ahern is effectively leading us into war and is asking us to die for Bush," he said. "Fianna Fáil was once a party that fought for national independence. Now it is leading us into war."
The Cork Anti-War Campaign is also organising an anti-war protest for Saturday. It will assemble in Daunt Square at 1 p.m. and march through the city centre. Up to 4,000 people attended a similar march earlier this month.
The group is holding a concert for peace this evening, at City Limits in Coburg Street. All proceeds will go to UNICEF Ireland's programme of medicine for Iraqi children. Performers will include Karan Casey, Scullion and Interference.
A peace rally will be held in Guildhall Square, Derry, at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
In Belfast a march begins at 2 p.m. at the Arts College end of Donegall Street. Groups from other parts of Belfast will join the march to the City Hall.
The Waterford march will also start at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Peace activists supported by the Waterford Council of Trade Unions will proceed from the Glen to Red Square.
The Sligo Anti-War Movement will assemble at the City Hall in Quay Street at 3 p.m. to march through the town.
In Galway, protesters will assemble at Father Burke Park, Father Griffin Road, at 1 p.m. and march through the city.
Mr Richard Boyd Barrett, chairman of the Irish Anti-War Movement, said the recent mass protests were the only reason the war had not already started.
"The only thing that will halt the war once it starts will be taking these protests to an even higher level," he said. "We are calling on the Irish public to once again make clear their opposition to this war and demand that our Government ends its support for US war-mongering."
A small group of anti-war protesters called yesterday on the Defence Forces not to participate in any support for the war. Members of the Global Women's Strike made their appeal during a picket outside Renmore barracks, Galway.
