Police retreat to let marchers go down W

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Tue Nov-18-03 05:48 AM
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Police retreat to let marchers go down W

From The Times

AT LEAST 100,000 people will march down Whitehall on Thursday to protest against President Bush’s three-day state visit to Britain, police said yesterday. Scotland Yard agreed last night, after hours of negotiation with the Stop the War Coalition, to allow protesters to march along the traditional route close to Parliament. Police believe that more than 100,000 people, including many foreign activists, will take part in the main protest on Thursday. They will walk down Kingsway to Aldwych, over Waterloo Bridge, along the South Bank and then back over Westminster Bridge. From there they will march past Parliament, along Whitehall and will congregate in Trafalgar Square.

Police had wanted marchers to go down Kingsway to Aldwych, along The Strand and into Trafalgar Square. But the protesters said that the route was too short and did not pass any landmarks. Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour MP, who took part in the negotiations with the police, said: “We think this is a very successful outcome for all. The march is going to be huge, very well stewarded and very well ordered.” But police fear that the event will be taken over by troublemakers. Activists gathered in East London last night for a training session on what to do if they were arrested on Thursday. Some march organisers are said to have privately passed to police details of those whom they think may try to hijack the protest.

Several European anti-war groups say that they will travel to London for the protests, including Non à la Guerre (No to War), of France, and Ya Basta (Enough’s Enough), of Italy, and the Axis of Peace Coalition of France, Germany and Russia. “We hope and expect there will be at least 300 French men and women on the streets of London next week,” a spokesman for Non à la Guerre said. Up to 300 people are expected to travel from Germany, Rainer Braun, of the Axis of Peace coalition, said. Another French group, Agir Contre la Guerre, is bringing 200 protesters to London by coach tomorrow, at a cost of €40 (£28) a person. Kate Hudson, chairwoman of CND, said: “Hundreds of people from France, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands have said they want to come over to London.”

At least 200 Americans are travelling to London for the demonstration, the Stop the War Coalition said. The group also has about 200 coaches transporting people to London from around Britain. Protesters will gather today at the ExxonMobil offices in London and attend an evening rally in North London. Rallies around the capital tomorrow will include a Critical Mass cycle protest, an alternative state procession and a school students rally. Protesters have also threatened to storm Buckingham Palace, where Mr Bush and his wife Laura will be staying. After the main demonstration on Thursday, activists will protest at the US Embassy. On Friday, they will return to the embassy, and there will also be protests in Sedgefield, the Prime Minister’s constituency.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-898849,00.html