Fewer than expected at London anti-war rally

Anti-war protesters were today gathering in Hyde Park ahead of a planned march through London to mark the first anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

Activists carrying colourful banners with slogans such as “Shutdown Guantanamo Bay” and “No more lies Mr Blair” listened to musicians’ improvised anti-war raps in Speaker’s Corner.

However, as the 1pm departure for the march approached, the number of protesters appeared to be far less than the tens of thousands that organisers Stop The War Coalition had suggested might take part.

Placards for the Green Party, the Socialist Party and CND were in evidence and one man with a portable loud speaker was singing: “We’re going to follow the Spanish this summer” - in reference to Jose Maria Aznar’s defeat in the recent Spanish general election.

Spain had also sent troops to support the invasion of Iraq.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said they currently had no estimate of the crowd numbers, and no arrests had been made as yet.

The march is scheduled to finish in Trafalgar Square, where the crowd will hear speeches from celebrity supporters of the anti-war cause.