Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in cities across America yesterday against the US-led war in Iraq.
Marchers stretched more than three miles down Broadway in New York City, chanting "No Blood for Oil" and carrying signs such as "Support Our Troops. Bring Them Home," "Peace is Patriotic" and "You Can't Save A Country By Bombing It." Unofficial estimates put the crowd at 150,000 to 250,000.
In San Francisco, streets downtown were closed for a third day as tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied in front of city hall before marching through the city in a thick stream running for as many as 10 city blocks.
The San Francisco protest was peaceful and without incident, in contrast to the arrests of more than 2,100 people since Thursday in daily anti-war demonstrations in the city.
Protesters also gathered in Hollywood, California, Chicago and Washington. Rallies in support of President George W Bush, whom opinion polls show gaining public backing for the war, took place in Chicago and in California's capital, Sacramento.
The New York march was largely peaceful, but a few protesters clashed with police when they were asked to clear the streets at the end. Police said they made 22 arrests.
Eleven officers were sprayed with Mace, of whom seven were treated at hospitals, a police spokesman said.
In Washington, between 200 and 300 people rallied across from the White House in Lafayette Park for about an hour before marching through the streets. "Bush Does Not Speak For Me," said one protest sign.