British campaigners vow to avert war in Iraq

British campaigners opposed to a war in Iraq have issued a firm declaration of intent to Tony Blair and George W Bush.

They insist they will not rest until they have secured victory and averted bloodshed.

At its national conference in London, The Stop The War Coalition said an imminent military conflict in the Gulf was against the law.

It also said it was against justice, morality and humanity and was a war against the will of the British people.

George Galloway MP (Glasgow Kelvin) told delegates they were "winning the argument" and that the political ground beneath the feet of parliamentarians in Westminster was shifting on the issue of Iraq.

He said: "Comrades, we are winning this argument in these islands and we should be proud of the role which we have played and determine that we will not rest until victory is ours."

Referring to February 15, the day the coalition plans to co-ordinate a united and international demonstration, Mr Galloway said it was hard to imagine a more important day.

"February 15, the day after Valentine's Day is a red letter day for us.

"Tony Blair will be in my constituency at the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow visiting the conference of an organisation that describes themselves as Scottish New Labour. The Scottish movement will besiege Tony Blair in Glasgow."

He claimed Britain was the key battleground in a final decision to mount a war against Saddam Hussain and it was their role to "cut the umbilical cord which seems to connect Mr Blair and Mr Bush."