WORLD NEWS

March 20, 2003

The World Reacts

Protesters and supporters around the globe weigh in on the war

From Paris to Cairo, the world is reacting to the start of the war in Iraq. Some people are taking to the streets in protest while others are quietly supporting the U.S.-led war.

It's similar with governments. France's president, Jacques Chirac, said, "France regrets this action taken without approval of the United Nations."

The governments of Britain and Japan expressed immediate support. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Iraq "has not acted sincerely." Tony Blair appeared on television to speak to the British people. He announced that British forces had joined the war effort. The threat from terrorist nations "is real and growing" declared the British Prime Minister.

Throughout the U.S., protests for and against the war continued in towns and cities. Still, the war continues. The U.S. has some 300,000 troops aimed at the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. The action is expected to intensify in the coming days. Here's a snapshot of how the world is responding to the war:

CAIRO, EGYPT

In the Egyptian capital, where many shops and restaurants were closed on Thursday, thousands of demonstrators marched to the American embassy and hurled stones and metal barricades. Authorities used water cannons and police dogs to stop a crowd from reaching the embassy. Said one protestor: "I hope the American people will revolt against this war." After Friday's weekly prayers at the Al-Azhar mosque, 10,000 demonstrators chanted anti-U.S. slogans. In his sermon, the Muslim world's top Sunni cleric said, "We have to support and defend the people of Iraq."

MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES

Although Filipino president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is a staunch ally of the U.S.-led war on terrorism, some 300 anti-war demonstrators tried to approach the U.S. embassy in Manila. Violence erupted and 12 people were hurt.

ATHENS, GREECE

More than 100,000 people - many of them high school and college students - marched to the U.S. embassy chanting "No to the war." Greece's governing Socialist party encouraged Greeks to attend protests that are planned for the weekend. A four-hour nationwide strike called to oppose the war brought Greece to a standstill on Friday. Airports were shut down, causing major delays. Greek unions called for a boycott of American products like clothes and movies.

PARIS, FRANCE

About 10,000 young people gathered at the Place de la Concorde for an evening demonstration. Some demonstrators waved banners saying, "Yankee, go home." The French government would agree with that sentiment. It unsuccessfully led the effort in the United Nations to stop a U.S. attack on Iraq. China, Russia and Germany also joined the French plan. Russian president Vladimir Putin called the attack a "big political mistake." On Friday, China's legislature expressed "grave worries" about the war and "strongly called for the halt of the operations."

SAN'A, YEMEN

Some 30,000 anti-war demonstrators clashed with officials on Friday outside the U.S. embassy in Yemen. Hundreds of police tried to stop the violent crowd with tear gas and water cannons. Gunfire was exchanged, killing three protestors and injuring dozens. The Yemeni government has been outspokenly opposed to war.

DAMASCUS, SYRIA

About 500 Palestinians marched through the al-Yarmouk refugee camp outside Damascus in support of Saddam Hussein and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The protestors carried posters of the two leaders and condemned Arab governments that are aiding the U.S. war effort.

TOKYO, JAPAN

At least 11,000 demonstrators marched for peace in Japan's capital on Friday. The protests came after President Bush thanked the Japanese prime minister for joining the "coalition of the willing." Representatives of Japan's opposition parties and labor unions marched with the demonstrators. Said one protestor: "If our government can't stand up to the U.S., then we citizens have to."

LONDON, ENGLAND

On Friday, protestors in central London blocked Parliament Square with bicycles. The environmental organization Greenpeace dropped peace leaflets over a British air force base from a hot air balloon.

BERLIN, GERMANY

Schoolchildren in Berlin placed candles on a street leading to the heavily protected U.S. embassy. Anti-war activists set up a 10-foot peace symbol and an 800-pound bell near the embassy. The bell will ring every half-hour until the war is over.

TEHRAN, IRAN

On Friday, people in Tehran prayed for peace in Iraq during Nowruz, the ancient holiday to honor Persian New Year. "We pray that peace prevails," said one man as he celebrated with his family. An Iranian student marked the holiday by remembering "innocent Iraqis who are subject to war."

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