Up to 2,000 people marched through the streets of Dublin today to protest against the continued United States presence in Iraq.
The Irish anti-war movement hailed the protest a success, but said it was disappointing that numbers did not match the 100,000 who turned out to protest in the city before the US-led invasion in 2003.
Chairman Richard Boyd-Barrett blamed "a huge wave of propaganda" which had convinced some people that the invasion had been justified by the recent elections in Iraq.
"The claim the US are sponsoring democracy in the Middle East is a terrible lie," he said. He said the march was designed to remind the US that the violence in Iraq would continue until the 140,000 troops left.
Gardai estimated the number on today's march as possibly up to 2,000. Similar protests took place today in over 100 cities across the world. The march began at Parnell Square at around 2.30pm and went along O'Connell Street.
The marchers paused briefly outside the offices of The Irish Timeson D'Olier Street and booed to protest at the newspaper's use of the columnist Mark Stein. Socialist Workers Party member Dave Lordan said the protesters strongly disagreed with Mr Stein's columns in favour of US President George Bush.
"We'd like the Irish Timesto sack Mark Stein," he said.
The march was led by six women from the NGO Peace Alliance, followed by 10 protesters dressed in Guantanamo Bay-style orange jumpsuits. NGO Peace Alliance spokesman Brendan Butler said the marchers were demanding the end of the use of Shannon Airport by US troops on their way to Iraq.
"We get money from the US government every time a US warplane lands in Shannon and every time US soldiers go in and buy duty free. It is blood money," he said.
The protest concluded with speeches outside the Dail.
PA