Italian journalist and former hostage in Iraq , Giuliana Sgrena, marches to Navona Square in central Rome March 18, 2006 in a demonstration marking the third anniversary since the invasion of Iraq. (Xinhua/Reuters)

ROME, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Italians held an anti-war demonstration in the capital Rome on Saturday, to mark the third anniversary of war on Iraq.

    Protestors from all over Italy marched through Rome carrying banners with slogans calling for peace, stopping the war and urging the pullout of foreign troops from Iraq.

    At the end of the march which was also attended by some Americans, the demonstrators gathered at the Navona square in Central Rome and held a peace rally there.

    Italy currently has about 3,000 troops deployed in Iraq. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said all the troops will be taken home by the end of this year. Enditem