AGAINST WAR: Age is no barrier in the anti-war protest

"Stop The War" leaflets were distributed, and placards displaying everything from "3:17 Judgement Day" to "Wyre Forest Against War" were on display.

Rally leaders also began chants against Prime Minister Tony Blair, to the popular tunes of Bob the Builder and Hey, Baby.

The demonstration took place on Saturday morning outside Malvern Theatres, where the West Midlands Labour Biennial Conference was being held.

Protesters of all ages were present, from young children to experienced anti-war campaigners.

"Bush and Blair seem to forget about the innocent people of Iraq," said Mike Pulsford, a 69-year-old retired teacher from Bewdley. "They have children and can laugh and feel pain just like we do.

"And the Iraqi people are innocent because they had no choice in their leader. We had a choice and voted for a leader who will start a war."

His views were echoed throughout the afternoon.

One couple brought their two children, Alexander, aged four, and Finlay, just three months, to the protest.

"There is going to be a war and we want our children to remember that we were all against it," said 41-year-old Sally Scott, from Ross-on-Wye.

Her husband, Kevin Scott, is a former member of the Labour Party who has vowed not to support the present Government.

"There are no Socialists in the party any more," the 39-year-old said. "They don't listen or support the people's views so I won't support theirs."

Chairman of the Labour party John Reid MP, who was in Malvern for the conference, told the Evening News that Saturday's anti-war demonstration was important.

"One of the things it does is highlight the complete difference between our democracy and that in Iraq," he said. "People should have the freedom to disagree."

But he added that the Government's stance was clear.

"The authority and legitimacy of the United Nations is at stake," he said. "There must be an unconditional, immediate, full and complete declaration and disarmament."

Despite the strength of the protest the afternoon remained peaceful. There was, however, a large police presence at both the conference and demonstration.

The rally, involving more than 200 people, came only weeks after protests in London and Birmingham, and on the same day as an estimated 20,000 turned out in Manchester.

Weekend event was just first in series first anti-war protest planned for Worcestershire.

Now campaigners will be able to register their feelings at local events throughout the coming weeks.

They include a meeting on Thursday, March 13, at St Andrew's Methodist Church in Pump Street, and a demonstration planned for Worcester's Guildhall at 11am on Saturday, March 15.

The following week will also see a series of documentary films about the first Gulf War, its aftermath and consequences. They are planned for Tuesday, March 18, at the Marr's Bar, for smokers, and Worcester Library, for non-smokers.

Further afield

Events further afield include an opportunity for representatives from the Worcester Stop The War Coalition to attend the People's Assembly for Peace in Westminster this Wednesday, and a demonstration at Fairford Airbase, Gloucestershire.

The protest at Britain's biggest airbase, which is also home to American B52 Stealth Bombers, will take place on Saturday, March 22.

The Worcester Stop The War Coalition hopes to have a website up and running soon, but e-mail enquiries can now be made to nowarcoach@ hotmail.com

Teenage population rallies to put an end to threat of battle

SCHOOL children and students have been some of the most vocal anti-war protesters.

Often accused of being apathetic and materialistic, Britain's teenagers have taken many adults by surprise.

Sixteen-year-old Katie Hughes, from Northwick, Worcester, told the Worcester Evening News why she spent her Saturday morning demonstrating in Malvern.

"There is no justification for a pre-emptive strike," said Katie. "This protest could be too late but the Government has to know we do not support their actions."

"I don't feel that we are in any way justified because Iraq has started disarming its weapons and Hans Blix has said it will take months to do it fully.

"A pre-emptive strike is totally wrong. We need to put human rights monitors in place, not start dropping bombs.

"It's a scary situation and there is very little we can do about it. People I know who have been lifelong Labour supporters are going to vote for the Liberal Democrats at the next election. But it may be too late by then."

Katie, who is going to a series of anti-war events planned in Worcester over the next two weeks, also attended the demonstration in London on Saturday, February 15.

"It was brilliant to see so many people coming together," she said. "It should have made a difference but it seems that Tony Blair will not listen to us, no matter how many there are."

And though the Worcester Sixth Form College student does not remember the first Gulf War, she emphasised that young people were becoming more politically active.

"Many people have the idea that we are apathetic," she said. "But nearly all my friends are against war and the threat of it has certainly woken us up."

Saturday's protest was held outside the West Midlands Labour Biennial Conference at Malvern Theatres.

It came only days after 350 pupils from a Birmingham school held an anti-war rally and four pupils from The Chase high school, in Malvern, played truant to hand out "Stop The War" leaflets in the centre of Worcester.