Washington, Oct 25: Demonstrators from more than 145 US cities poured into Washington today for the first major peace protest since President George W Bush declared an end to major combat in the war on Iraq. Small groups of protesters carrying signs demanding an end to the US occupation of Iraq gathered outside the US Capitol Building and across downtown Washington, heading toward the national mall for a late-morning rally followed by a march to surround the White House.
A similar rally and protest were also planned for San Francisco.
Guerrillas fighting the US-led occupation have killed 108 US soldiers since May 01, when Bush declared major combat in Iraq over. Peace activists said increasing concerns about casualties in Iraq have spurred the US anti-war movement back into action after months of relative quiet.
''We will see. The largest number of people since May 01 coming back into the streets to say no to the Iraq occupation and no to the Bush administration's foreign policy,'' Brian Becker, a spokesman for organizing group international answer, said.
On Saturday, a US Black Hawk military helicopter crashed near the Iraqi town of Tikrit and burst into flames, leaving at least one soldier wounded. Soldiers said the helicopter had been flying and some said it was brought down by a rocket-propelled grenade, although there was no immediate official comment on the cause of the crash.
Many Iraqi civilians have also been killed in attacks meant for US troops, or in crossfire.
Bureau Report