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UK anti-war campaign stepped up
LONDON, England -- The burgeoning peace movement in the UK is preparing a two-pronged assault on the British Government's support for U.S.-led military action against Iraq. On Wednesday, campaigners including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), were launching a legal bid to send UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to the International Criminal Court should war break out. CND chairman Carol Naughton said: "If this war goes ahead it will be crime against humanity." The groups say the proceeds from the sale of white ribbons, symbolising peace, will pay for Blair, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to be sent to The Hague should crimes against humanity be carried out. They say possible breaches of the Geneva Convention might include using weapons which are indiscriminate in nature, such as nuclear bombs, or launching an attack which resulted in an excessive loss of life or the natural environment. Peace campaigner Mark Thomas said: "I hope the white ribbon for peace becomes a common sight that helps demonstrate the massive opposition to this unjust, illogical and illegal war. "Any money raised will be used to try and make Blair legally accountable for any war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in our name." Meanwhile, between 500,000 and one million people are expected to take part in an anti-war march and rally in central London on Saturday. The "Don't Attack Iraq" demonstration is being organised by the Stop the War Coalition (STWC), which was formed 10 days after the September 11 terror attacks on the U.S. The coalition organised a similar event in September last year which attracted tens of thousands of protesters. Saturday's rally, in the capital's Hyde Park, will be addressed by the Rev Jesse Jackson, former Labour MP Tony Benn -- who recently held face-to-face talks in Baghdad with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein -- Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy and London Mayor Ken Livingstone. A video message from Nelson Mandela will also be screened. STWC predicts the march will be the broadest grassroots "mobilisation" in history, dwarfing the anti-Vietnam opposition in the 1960s and the peace movement of the 1980s. The coalition is made up of more than 450 organisations, including such disparate groups as Greenpeace and Americans Against the War and 11 political parties including the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Greens. The march comes at a sensitive time with London on high alert amid fears of a potential terrorist attack. (Full story)
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