Thousands march in Paris against US occupation of Iraq

About 3,000 demonstrators marched through central Paris today to protest against the US-led occupation of Iraq and call for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, police said.

The peaceful protesters railed against US President George W Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, saying they have not done enough to foster peace in the Middle East.

“Bush, Sharon – Assassins,” shouted many in the crowd. Some marched behind a wide banner that read, “American Imperialism: Take your bloody hands off the Middle East.”

Others held aloft posters that read “Wanted: George W Bush – War Criminal,” or “Blair Must Go,” referring to Prime Minister Tony Blair.

“We are more and more worried about the world situation,” said protester Jim Cohen, 49, a native of Springfield, Massachusetts, who lives in France. He urged “a different kind of relationship” between the United States and the rest of the world.

Other Americans in the multinational but largely French crowd urged Washington to reach out to the international community to help bring stability and peace to Iraq.

“There is a lot to be done, the whole country needs to be rebuilt,” said Venetia Valin, 52, from Connecticut. “There is no electricity, there is no sanitary system anymore ... It’s a huge job and it’s too expensive for the United States alone.”

Paris police said about 3,000 demonstrators took part. The protest came on the same day as several similar marches around the world in places such as South Korea, Britain and Greece.