- Title: BELGIUM: ANTI-WAR PROTESTERS STAGE DEMONSTRATION IN BRUSSELS.
- Date: 20th January 2003
- Summary: (EU) BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (JANUARY 19, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/GV/PAN: MAN WAVING PALESTINIAN FLAG AS DEMONSTRATION BEGINS; LEAD BANNER: "NO WAR FOR OIL"; BANNER: "USA HAS THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR WAR" (3 SHOTS) 0.21 2. GV/PAN: PEOPLE MARCHING 0.29 3. LAS/PAN: PEOPLE SHOUTING ENCOURAGEMENT TO DEMONSTRATORS FROM BALCONY 0.39 4. GV/MV/PAN: BANNER: "STOP USA", PEOPLE MARCHING (2 SHOTS) 0.57 5. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) AHMED AZZUZ, AN ARAB RIGHTS ACTIVIST, SAYING: "Of course we are against the war in Iraq because we know that the war against Iraq is a war against all Arabs. As an Arab I am attacked by that and I am trying to convince people that its not only a war against Arabs it will be after that a war against everybody in the world." 1.23 6. GV/PAN: BANNERS: "TRADE UNIONISTS AGAINST WAR" 1.34 7. MV/ZOOM: WOMEN CHANTING (French) "NO TO WAR", ZOOM FORWARD TO BANNER: "REGIME CHANGE STARTS AT HOME" 1.45 8. TV/PAN/VARIOUS: TOP VIEW OF DEMONSTRATION UNDER WAY; YOUNG MEN WAVING BANNER: "BUSH, SHARON, ASSASSINS"; TOP VIEW OF CROWD; BANNER: "NO ATTACK ON IRAQ"; WIDE OF DEMONSTRATION (5 SHOTS) 2.24 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 4th February 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Reuters ID: LVA8XA8RBUXSR7RZON4MSYF8T4YV
- Story Text: About four thousand people have braved pouring rain to
stage an anti-war demonstration in Brussels, the home to a
large Arabic community. Protesters chanted slogans against
U.S. President George Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon.
Armed with banners demanding Bush's removal from power,
the disarmament of the United States (U.S.) and shouting
slogans branding Sharon a murderer, the largely good-natured
demonstration marched through the deserted heart of Brussels
on Sunday (January 19).
The Belgian demonstration came one day after a series of
similar protests elsewhere in Europe, in the UK and in the
U.S., which saw hundreds of thousands take to the streets.
"Of course we are against the war in Iraq because we know
that the war against Iraq is a war against all Arabs. As an
Arab I am attacked by that and I am trying to convince people
that its not only a war against Arabs it will be after that a
war against everybody in the world," said one Arab rights
activist attending the event.
But as the protesters filed through the capital of Europe
to protest against war, a conflict over Iraq seemed
increasingly likely.
Chief United Nations (U.N.) arms inspector Hans Blix flew
to Baghdad on Sunday (January 19) to demand that Iraq stop
dragging its feet and volunteer evidence on its weapons
programmes to avert the threat of war.
Banners were similar to those carried in other protests
this weekend: "No blood for oil" and "United States, nobel
prize for war."
Although smaller than many of the protests elsewhere in
Europe, the demonstration brought to a close one of the
largest sets of anti-war protests since the U.S. and its ally
Britain started pouring equipment and troops into the Gulf.
Many demonstrators feared that a January 27 report by the
U.N. weapons inspectors on whether Iraq has weapons of mass
destruction could be used by the U.S. and Britain to start a
war.
jg/us
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