Thousands of protesters took to the streets to march against the war in Afghanistan today as Nato leaders discussed bringing an end to the nine-year conflict.
Demonstrators were led by military families as they carried anti-war placards and banners against cuts to government spending.
As the march moved from Hyde Park, central London, protesters chanted: 'When they say warfare, we say welfare'. The coalition government has stated that Britain's combat role in Afghanistan will end by 2015.
As the march moved from Hyde Park, central London, protesters chanted: 'When they say warfare, we say welfare'. The coalition government has stated that Britain's combat role in Afghanistan will end by 2015.
Guardsman Christopher Davies, who was killed on Wednesday in Helmand, was the 100th British member of the armed forces to die this year after being deployed to Afghanistan.
Many of the protesters said the Government's commitment to end Britain's combat role over the next four years was not soon enough.
Clara Torres, 62, said: 'That's far too long for them to be there. They shouldn't be there in the first place.
Ms Torres, a retired nurse from Richmond, Surrey, who marched with her daughter and baby granddaughter, said: 'We don't own them, Afghanistan is nothing to do with us.
'We should leave now.'
Protestors take part in the Afghanistan: Time to Go demonstration, organised by Stop the War
The demonstration came to a halt in front of the fashionable Cookbook Cafe, on Park Lane.
Diners inside the expensive restaurant looked unsettled as they continued with their lunch.
At Trafalgar Square the rally was addressed by a series of speakers.
Seamus Milne, a commentator for the Guardian, said: 'In Lisbon today the Nato leaders will try to make it appear that they are bringing an end to this war, a war that is now in its 10th year
'This talk of an exit strategy is clearly a sham.'
He continued: 'They're stating that their aim is to withdraw combat troops by 2015.
John Hilary, the executive director of War on Want said: 'We have a message for David Cameron and his Liberal Democrat allies.
'Do not dare to tell us that there is no money for public services and public sector workers.
'We want the £11bn that is being spent on the war in Afghanistan to go on things we need in this country.
'Bring home the troops and bring justice to the people of Afghanistan.'
Many of the protesters said the Government's commitment to end Britain's combat role over the next four years was not soon enough.
Clara Torres, 62, said: 'That's far too long for them to be there. They shouldn't be there in the first place.
'We should leave now.'
Protestors take part in the Afghanistan: Time to Go demonstration, organised by Stop the War
The demonstration came to a halt in front of the fashionable Cookbook Cafe, on Park Lane.
Diners inside the expensive restaurant looked unsettled as they continued with their lunch.
At Trafalgar Square the rally was addressed by a series of speakers.
Seamus Milne, a commentator for the Guardian, said: 'In Lisbon today the Nato leaders will try to make it appear that they are bringing an end to this war, a war that is now in its 10th year
'This talk of an exit strategy is clearly a sham.'
He continued: 'They're stating that their aim is to withdraw combat troops by 2015.
John Hilary, the executive director of War on Want said: 'We have a message for David Cameron and his Liberal Democrat allies.
'Do not dare to tell us that there is no money for public services and public sector workers.
'We want the £11bn that is being spent on the war in Afghanistan to go on things we need in this country.
'Bring home the troops and bring justice to the people of Afghanistan.'
Good on them!
ReplyDeleteOur friend Tony from Scotland was there.
ReplyDeletehttp://afghancentral.blogspot.com/