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Tens of thousands of people Saturday attended peace rallies throughout New Zealand to protest against war in Iraq.
An anti-war protest rally was held Saturday morning at the Civic Square in Wellington. Thousands of protesters left the Square after the rally, chanting anti-war slogans and carrying banners as they marched to Parliament and on to the United States Embassy.
In Auckland, protesters marched from downtown to Myers Park where a rally was addressed by various speakers.
March organizers Global Peace and Justice Auckland said anger at "this illegal and immoral war" was very strong and Saturday's march could be the biggest so far in the country.
Spokesman Mike Treen said marchers called on the New Zealand government to withdraw the frigate HMNZS Te Mana from the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea "because its role includes escorting United States warships on their way to attack Iraq".
The anti-war protest rallies were also held Saturday in Nelson and Christchurch on the South Island. In Christchurch, a peace vigil was organized from 12:30 pm.
A Peace and Music Festival was being held at the Riverside Community, near Motueka on the South Island, from 1:00 pm.
Green Party members of Parliament attended anti-war marches throughout the country and its foreign affairs, defense and disarmament spokesman Keith Locke is heading across the Tasman to join a march for peace through Sydney Sunday afternoon.
(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2003)
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