London protest calls for end of 10-year war in Afghanistan

A rally and protest march was held in London Saturday to mark the 10th anniversary of the US-led war in Afghanistan. Hundreds of musicians, writers, journalists, actors, film makers, artists, MPs, trade unionists jointed peace campaigners, calling for the withdrawal of British troops.  Stop The War Coalition (STWC), Britain’s largest peace group network which organised the protest said tens of thousands have so far died in the war and that after 10 years there were still more than 100,000 NATO troops in the country.  'Opinion polls suggest the majority of Britons want a speedy withdrawal of British troops, a view recently endorsed by the trade unions,” a STWC spokesman said.  'Politicians have to get in step with public opinion and announce a date to bring troops home.' the spokesman said.  The rally was opened at Trafalgar Square by Joe Glenton, the first British soldier to be jailed for refusing to be sent to Afghanistan, and Grace McCann, who in 2010 attempted a citizen's arrest on former prime minister Tony Blair for alleged war crimes.  Other speakers at the event included veteran politician Tony Ben, Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, former MP George Galloway, Muslim writer and Journalist Yvonne Ridley, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, activist Jemima Khan, musician Brian Eno, comedian Mark Steel, Egyptian novelist Ahdaf Soueif, head of the Unite union Len McCluskey, actors Simon McBurney and Mark Rylance.  Apart from a series of speeches, music was played, actors performed, films were shown in a variety of performances. There were also stalls, displays, installations, and open microphone sessions.  A Naming the Dead Ceremony of all those killed in the war was be led by bereaved family members of soldiers, who have lost their lives.  The culminating march to Downing Street, headed by ex-soldiers and their families, handed in a petition for Prime Minister David Cameron, demanding that “no more lives are wasted in Afghanistan.”