20,000 join ceasefire protest

13 April 2012

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to demand an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon.

Protesters marched through central London to voice their anger with Tony Blair and the US government for failing to put pressure on Israel to end the violence.

A handful were arrested as tempers flared when they passed along Whitehall and some tossed shoes in the direction of Downing Street.

Organisers hailed the success of the hurriedly-arranged demonstration claiming between 80-100,000 took part. The police estimate was 20,000.

Kate Hudson, chair of CND, said: "It's a marvellous indication of the strength of opposition to the violence in the Middle East. It is a very strong message to Tony Blair to get behind the cause of the ceasefire."

Families, political campaigners and Muslim groups from around England, Scotland and Wales were among the crowds that converged at Speakers' Corner in the bright sunshine today.

The event was also backed by a number of trade unions, Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, former MP Tony Benn, and veteran campaigner Walter Wolfgang, who was recently elected to Labour's National Executive Committee.

Mr Corbyn said: "The demonstration shows the unity of any normal thinking person in this country that there should be an immediate ceasefire and that the government's line is incomprehensibly wrong."

Anas Altikriti of the British Muslim Initiative said: "The unique thing about today is that it brings people from all sectors of British society together.

"This is no longer a thing associated with the left. People from the Cotswolds, people from middle England are here today. The country is united in anger and frustrated as to why it is that the word ceasefire has been so difficult for the prime minister to utter over the last couple of weeks."

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