February 15, 2004
Thousands of protesters demanding an end to the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq took to the streets in downtown Madrid and other Spanish cities Sunday, holding banners reading, "We are with the Iraqi people, Invaders, out of Iraq." At Madrid's Plaza Espana square, police said about 10,000 people rallied, while organizers put the number at 100,000. Some young marchers chanted, "Where are the weapons? They are in the U.S.!" and "The Popular Party, a criminal party!" in reference to the party of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, one of President Bush's staunchest allies on Iraq and other issues. People of all ages, from gray-haired couples to toddlers in strollers, joined the orderly stream of protesters in the streets. Smaller rallies were held in Barcelona and Valencia, where demonstrators added the Palestinian cause to their campaign. The protests were timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the first major international anti-war marches before the conflict started last March. Several large demonstrations were held in Madrid before and during the war, attracting between 750,000 and 2 million people. Despite widespread public opposition to the war, Aznar's conservative government offered strong support for the U.S.-led invasion, and Spain sent 1,300 peacekeepers to Iraq to help with the occupation. Protesters rejected the chief justification used by Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and other allies, including Aznar, for going to war: the threat posed by Iraqi biological and chemical weapons. No such weapons have been found. "We were right a year ago," said United Left leader Gaspar Llamazares, who urged Aznar to bring home Spanish troops. "There were no weapons, but there are lots of lies." Llamazares said the demonstration would send a strong message to the government ahead of Spain's March 14 general elections. The Iraq issue is expected to be debated by the top contenders, Popular Party's Mariano Rajoy and Socialist Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Aznar is not running for re-election. Zapatero recently said in a television interview that if he wins, he will bring home the Spanish troops.
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