Thousands March to Cheney's House to Protest Possible War on Iraq

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, September 30, 2002

Thousands March to Cheney's House to Protest Possible War on Iraq

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Thousands of people protesting a possible US war against Iraq marched to the residence of Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday, part of a three-day demonstration targeting meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

Several hundred police kept close watch over the protesters as they marched along some embassies in Washington to Cheney's residence. Some stopped to cheer outside the embassies of Egypt, Japan and Turkey, reading quotes from those governments against a US strike on Iraq.

The protesters, some holding signs saying "No Blood for Oil," blamed Cheney for pushing the nation toward war. Police estimated about 2,500 people turned out for the peaceful event.

The anti-war rally culminated a weekend of demonstrations mainly protesting what the organizers say as unfair IMF policies that benefit wealthier nations at the expense of developing nations.

More than 600 of about 2,000 protesters were taken into custody on Friday for blocking sidewalks or entrances and parading without a permit. Saturday's demonstrations, which drew several thousands, passed off mostly peaceful, except that two men and two women were arrested after police found at least four coffee cans rigged with explosives in their backpacks.

Demonstrators had threatened to shut down Washington and disrupt the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank over the weekend, but their efforts were largely foiled. The number of protesters was much smaller than expected by organizers and police.

Police had prepared for as many as 20,000 demonstrators.

The protesters were fighting against a wide range of issues including globalization, AIDS and a possible US war on Iraq.

Karma Bennett, a senior from the Florida State University, toldXinhua at a weekend interview that she came from Florida to protest against the IMF and the World Bank policies. But she was more upset by the Bush administration's talk of war against Iraq.

"If there are still other ways, you should never go to war," she said. "If the war breaks out, then there will be no piece of peace."

Asked what she would tell President George W. Bush if she had a chance to talk with him, she replied: "We have no business in Iraq.Period."

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