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CNN SATURDAY MORNING NEWS
Half-Million Protesters Expected In London's Hyde Park
Aired February 15, 2003 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, a half-million protesters are expected today in London's Hyde Park.
CNN's Walter Rogers is there.
Hello, Walt.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles. And good morning from Piccadilly Circus here in London, where the demonstrators are beginning to parade through Piccadilly Circus on their way to Hyde Park.
I should tell you that London is the centerpiece of the European demonstrations because it is in Britain where the prime minister is most vulnerable. Many of theses demonstrators with whom I've spoken have an open and avowed purposed of bringing down Tony Blair, the prime minister here, because of course he supports President Bush and supports the concept that force may be necessary against the Iraqis.
This demonstration in London was organized by two or three leftist groups, plus the Muslim Citizens Council. The leftist groups the Committee for Nuclear Disarmament, and the Socialist Workers Party. And of course this march will resonate considerably around the world.
There were marchers earlier in the Far East in South Korea. There was a major demonstration against war earlier in the day in Seoul, which is, of course, perhaps 11 or 12 time zones ahead of us here. And then in Sydney, Australia, also many time zones earlier from London.
So in London, we're just beginning to get started. There is a very heavy anti-American tinge to this demonstration. I've seen posters this morning with George Bush dressed like a monkey, having a Nazi vermaat helmet on his head. And the posters read: "Get this monkey off our backs."
Much hostility towards the United States here, and the demonstration is only beginning to build here -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Walter Rodgers, Piccadilly Circus. Check in with you in just a bit -- Heidi.
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