Iraq anniversary to be marked with worldwide prayers and demonstrations

Demonstrations and prayers for peace will be taking place in more than 50 cities around the world this Saturday, to mark the anniversary of the war on Iraq. The London demonstration will assemble at Trafalgar Square at 12am. It will surround parliament and end in Parliament Square. Supporters are asked to bring flowers, wreaths, prayer cards, or other symbols to leave in Parliament Square to commemorate the victims of all the devastating wars of recent years. The demonstrations come in a week in which: * There has been an upsurge violence in Iraq. In spite of the troop 'surge' there have been dozens of Iraqi civilian fatalities, including the Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul. Christians are fleeing the country in the face of increasing persecution. In one 48 hour period, 12 American soldiers were killed. * Admiral William Fallon, the top US commander in the Middle East, was sacked for his opposition to an attack on Iran. * Gordon Brown was confirmed yet again as standing 'shoulder to shoulder' with Bush, following the revelation that Britain's cost for the Iraq war will double this year and Brown's promise of troop reductions in the Spring is unlikely to be met. In Glasgow, demonstrators will assemble 11.30, in Blythswood Square, Glasgow. One minute's silence will take place on Thursday, 20 March at noon. to commemorate the exact anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.