Iraq War sparks fresh protests in the Middle East

BEIRUT (AP) -- Waving flags from the Islamic-militant group Hezbollah, about 4,000 Lebanese children chanted: "Death to America" on Thursday in one of the daily protests in the Middle East since the start of the U.S.-led war on Iraq.

Thousands of Palestinians also marched on the West Bank of the Jordan River and in the Gaza Strip, urging Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to attack Israel with chemical weapons.

Thousands of others demonstrated in a half-dozen Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt, Jordan and Yemen.

In the Hezbollah-organized protest, the children, ages six to 10, carried a model of a U.S. missile that read: Bush's Gift to Iraqi Children. They also waved Palestinian flags and shouted "Death to Israel" as they called for a halt to the U.S.-British attacks on Iraq.

In the eastern Lebanese village Khiara, 6,000 students held a banner praising Germany and France for their strong opposition to war reading: Greetings to the Arab Republic of France and to the Arab Kingdom of Germany.

About 2,000 Lebanese students marched from their school in Sidon to the southern city's main square, where legislator Osama Saad praised the Iraqi people's "heroic resistance" and called for a boycott of U.S. and British products.

On the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, Palestinians marched through the streets holding posters of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, waving Iraqi and Palestinian flags and stomping Israeli and U.S. flags on the ground.

Fatima Mukhtar, 55, who wore a headband with the inscription: "We Love Saddam," said: "All of us believe that this is a time that America should be defeated and only he is capable of doing that and bringing back the hope and joy of thousands of families who are victims of Israeli and American terror."

In Syria, hundreds of thousands of people protested the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq on Tuesday in the Middle East's largest demonstration since the attack began last week.

As protesters burned U.S. and British flags in Damascus, the Syrian government denounced the invasion as "unjustified aggression and a blatant violation of international laws."

Following a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa Miro renewed Syria's call for "the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of U.S. and British invading troops from Iraqi territory," the official Syrian news agency said.

Antiwar demonstrations have been taking place daily in Damascus and many other Arab capitals since the beginning of the war, but Tuesday's protest appeared to be the largest.

Schools, universities and official government institutions closed in Damascus while an estimated 500,000 protested in the streets, holding banners that read "Stop this war" and labelling the American and British leaders "international terrorists."

A senior Palestinian Liberation Organization official, Farouk Kaddoumi, said the war in Iraq is a battle for Arab national security.

"Everything depends on us," he said.

"An Iraqi victory is a must and would save the region from American plans."

About 10,000 people in Bahrain, led by turbaned Muslim clerics, marched through the diplomatic district of Manama chanting: "Down! Down! U.S.A.!" and carrying black flags in a gesture of mourning for Iraqi casualties. They also burned U.S. flags and an effigy of Bush.

The gulf island Bahrain is home to the U.S. navy's 5th Fleet.

In Tripoli, capital of Libya, about 1,000 Libyans fasted for one day and gathered in the evening at a mosque, where they prayed for protection and support for the Iraqi people.



© Copyright 2003 Associated Press