Demonstrators called Bush and Blair "terrorists" and "war mongers"

KUALA LUMPUR, October 11 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Hundreds of anti-war demonstrators protested outside the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur Friday, October 11, against London's support for a fresh U.S.-led war on 12-year-sanction-hit Iraq.

Some 300 people gathered after Friday's Muslim prayers, shouting: "Death to [British Prime Minister Tony] Blair, death to [U.S. President George W.] Bush," Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

The demonstrators carried posters describing Blair and Bush as "war mongers" and placards reading: "Blair and Bush are terrorists, No war for oil, Stop the killings" and "Boycott American goods."

A police helicopter hovered above and dozens of riot police were on standby outside the British High Commission and the nearby U.S. embassy, but the protestors dispersed peacefully after 90 minutes.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has expressed his opposition to any war against Iraq without U.N. support, but his ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) was not involved in the demonstration.

The protesters were from four opposition parties including the Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), as well as 11 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), said AFP.

"We are here to show our support for the people of Iraq against any invasion by the superpowers, by the U.S. and its ally Britain ," said PAS vice president Mustaffa Ali.

Mustaffa joined a 12-member delegation which delivered a protest note to British High Commissioner Bruce Cleghorn, urging Britain to withdraw support for U.S. plans for war on Iraq .

"We believe this is a war merely to protect and control the United States ' interests in resources such as oil and to assure Israel that Iraq is and forever will be emasculated," the note said, according to AFP.

It called on Britain to press the U.S. to allow the United Nations to deal with Iraq .

Cleghorn issued a statement denying that Britain was a war monger and saying his country was allegedly "working vigorously" for a new U.N. resolution on arms inspections in Iraq .

"We want, if possible, to see a peaceful diplomatic solution" to the Iraq crisis, claimed Cleghorn. "The central issue is the return of the U.N. inspectors with unfettered and unobstructed access, not regime change," he added.

Iraq has embarrassed both the U.S. and Britain by accepting a full unconditional return of weapons inspectors – an action which German Defense Minister Peter Struck described saying: "That has to be the priority, and I believe it will also be part of any U.N. Security Council resolution."

Cleghorn further ruled out a war on Iraq was aimed at "regime change" after warnings by British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s top legal advisers that any armed attack on Iraq with the aim of ousting Iraqi President Saddam Hussein would breach international law.

Confidential advice from Attorney-general Lord Goldsmith and Solicitor General Harriet Harman sets out limited circumstances in which international law could allow military action in support of existing U.N. Security Council resolutions, and gives legal backing for action to enforce the fresh resolution under negotiation at the U.N. But it rules out war to achieve regime change, according to the Financial Times.

Were the British government to breach international law, it could find itself before the International Court of Justice facing charges for breaching the U.N. charter, the paper said.

Invasion into Gaza Arafat HQ Destroyed… In Pictures Homeless in Minutes War on Iraq.. World Reaction Palestine: Palestinian Olive Crop Hit By Israeli Practices: Report Israeli Army Kills Palestinian Woman, Makes Incursion in Gaza Israel Could Use Iraq War to Deport Palestinians to Jordan Israelis Kill 2 Palestinians, Including Child, Tel Aviv Bomb Blast Kills 1, Injures 29 PLO Urges Restraint Amid Palestinian Internal Clashes Israel Kills 2 Palestinian Boys, Injures 20 in Rafah, Gaza Iraq: Despite Congress Vote, World Opposes War on Iraq Noble Prize Winner Carter Opposes Unilateral U.S. Attack on Iraq U.S. Congress Gives Bush War Authority U.S. Will Occupy Iraq, Impose Military Rule, Control Oil Germany's Anti-war Position Unchanged By U.S. Congress Vote U.S. House Gives War Authorization, Bush Welcomes Iraq Invites U.S. to Inspect 2 Sites, Basra Airport Bombed Russia: No Evidence Iraq Has Weapons of Mass Destruction CIA: Saddam Hussein’s Moves Dependent on Threats Iraq Made Concession to U.N. over Interviews: Blix Five Dead, 50 Injured in Protest Against U.S. Evangelist, World Reacts Angrily Abdullah Dynasty Voted Out of Power in Jammu & Kashmir Homesick Abu-Keshek Wins Palestine's First Ever Asiad Medal Islamic Parties Make Huge Gains in Pakistani Polls  Malaysian Anti-war Demo Marches on U.K. High Commission  Mother Teresa’s “Miracle” Has Many Doubters At Least 20 Policemen Killed in Chechnya Explosion Muslim Woman Wrongly Fired over Headscarf: German Court “Muhammad The Last Prophet”: A Movie Below Expectations Muslim Charity Director Charged With Alleged Al-Qaeda Links Interfaith Leaders Call on Bush to Denounce Intolerance Musharraf: I Will Stay in Power to Ensure Democracy Yesterday's News Search Articles      News Archive : Day: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31     Month: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12   Year: 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999