Europe Witnesses Protests Against War Today - 2003-03-20

Following the commencement of U.S. attacks on Iraq, protests against the war were witnessed across Europe today. Over 100,000 people demonstrated in various locations in Greece, including the capital. Many of the Greek protesters were students who expressed their opposition to the attack on Iraq by chanting 'No to War.' Protests also took place in various Italian cities such as Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, and Bologna. In Rome, a number of students and workers gathered in front of the U.S. embassy, and members of the largest labor unions in the country also went on strike. German cities were also scenes of anti-war protests, with tens of thousands gathering in Berlin, Stuttgart, Cologne, Munich, and other cities. In London, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the British Prime Minister's residence, 10 Downing Street, and protests were also held in Switzerland, Denmark, Austria, and Russia. In Cyprus, hundreds of students gathered in front of the U.S. embassy, chanting anti-war slogans, and some protesters threw eggs at the embassy. Thousands of anti-war demonstrators took to the streets in Egypt today to express their opposition to the U.S.-led military attacks on Iraq. The largest anti-war gathering occurred in Cairo, where demonstrators clashed with police near the U.S. embassy. Riot police used batons and water cannons to confront stone-throwing protesters who shouted anti-American slogans. The capitals of Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria also witnessed anti-war protests today. However, no protests were held in the Gulf Arab countries, which host a significant number of U.S. soldiers. Meanwhile, leaders from Iran, Turkey, the Palestinian territories, and Lebanon criticized today's attacks, stating that the United States did not allow inspections in Iraq and the diplomatic process to resolve the crisis to continue.