Reply #2: Galloway seeks inquiry into convoy arrests [View All]

[Scurrilous]

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"The Respect MP George Galloway has called for an investigation after police stopped a convoy taking aid, toys and medical supplies to Gaza and arrested nine people under anti-terror laws.

All nine men arrested on the M65 near Preston last Friday have been released without charge, but the organisers of the Viva Palestina convoy, which is headed by Galloway, said that aid donations dropped by 80% after news of the arrests.

Police stopped three vehicles and arrested six men from Blackburn and three from Burnley under the Terrorism Act. The 100-vehicle convoy left without them and is now in Morocco.

"Nine innocent people were prevented by the police from joining our convoy," said Galloway. "The timing of the operation is seen locally as an attempt to smear and intimidate the Muslim community, and I must say they seem to be right. Photographs of the high-profile snatch were immediately fed to the press to maximise the newsworthiness of the smear."

Galloway said he was writing to the chief constable of Lancashire and the home secretary asking for an explanation."

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Moroccan-Algerian border opens for UK's Lifeline convoy to Gaza

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"Algeria and Morocco will open their borders exceptionally on Thursday for the UK-backed Lifeline convoy headed by Member of Parliament George Gallaway.

The convoy had started its journey on Saturday and passed through France, Spain and Morocco, and is expected to arrive in Algeria to pass through to Tunisia, Libya and Egypt to Gaza through the southern Rafah crossing.

The Lifeline convoy was established by the British Popular Campaign Against the Siege, which is also supported by several Islamic organizations in the UK, as well as the Stop the War Coalition and the Arab-British organization.

It is expected that the journey will take pass eight thousand kilometers before reaching Gaza two weeks after departing London."

http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&Do=&ID=35915