Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

Anti-war activists take part in a protest to mark five years of the war in Iraq during rush hour at Union Station in Washington March 18, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    LOS ANGELES, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in San Francisco on Wednesday to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war.

    The protests took place at several downtown locations, with reported brief clashes between demonstrators and police, witnesses said.

    The main group of protesters carried signs, shouted slogans and blasted music as they roamed the Financial District. Some threw play money in the air and waved pink flags.

    About 150 people were arrested by mid-afternoon as police tried to clear some locations of the protesters, according to the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper.

    One scuffle took place after about two dozen demonstrators staged a "die-in" in the intersection of Market and New Montgomery streets about 12:15 p.m. and were surrounded by 80 police officers in riot gear.

    After more than two hours of protests -- and about 100 arrests -- authorities finally cleared the intersection and reopened Market Street to traffic at 2:30 p.m.

    As protesters were arrested, more demonstrators from the scores who were watching from the sidewalk rushed to fill their place. Among those taken away were 20 people, calling themselves Act Against Torture, who were wearing orange jumpsuits with black hoods over their heads, said the report.

    "We're here to get arrested," said Leslie Mullin, 63. "The people have to step into this war because none of the government officials want to do it for us. We've gone all over town and people are saying, 'Good for you.' "

    Left-wing activist Daniel Ellsberg told the crowd, "The symbolism of people lying in death appears to symbolize the life and death seriousness as we enter the sixth year of this crime against the American people." He soon sat down in the street and was himself arrested.

    No injuries were reported in the protests, which began around 8a.m.

    Across the bay in Berkeley, about 100 demonstrators gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park at noon to hear peace activist Cindy Sheehan speak. About 80 people marched afterward to the Marine Corps recruiting station on Shattuck Square, where demonstrators had gathered earlier, said the report.

    After a short rally at the recruiting station -- which has been the focus of a weeks-long protest mounted by the anti-war group Code Pink, a group of protesters marched to the campus of the University of California in Berkeley, according to the report.

    Organizers said they have planned a larger-scale march from Civic Center to the Mission District, beginning from 5 p.m. 

Iraq War demonstrators, wearing masks, march in front of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 19, 2008, to mark the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

U.S. Democratic presidential candidates lambaste Iraq war

    WASHINGTON, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Democratic presidential candidates turned their campaign rallies into an anti-war forum as the country marked the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war on Wednesday.

    Illinois Senator Barack Obama, who is vying to be the first African American president, delivered a major speech on the Iraq war at Fort Bragg military base in Fayetteville, North Carolina.   Full story

Bush defends Iraq war as "right decision"

    WASHINGTON, March 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush defended on Wednesday the Iraq war as a "right decision" despite a high cost as thousands of Americans staged anti-war demonstrations across the nation to mark the war's fifth anniversary.

    "Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision, and this is a fight America can and must win," Bush said during a speech at the Pentagon.  Full story

Iraqis get nothing but disappointment five years after Iraqi war

    BAGHDAD , March 19 (Xinhua) -- As the fifth anniversary of Iraqi war drew imminent, Iraqi people still strive for survival rather than enjoying a free and just life as they expected before the war.

    Before the U.S.-led war against Saddam Hussein's reign in 2003,the U.S. administration depicted a rosy future with freedom and justice of Iraq.

    However, five year passed, Iraqis see nothing but daily killings, bombings and abductions only.  Full story

News Analysis: High civilian casualties tarnish U.S.-imposed democracy in Iraq

    BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhua) -- High Iraqi civilian casualties over the past five years after the U.S.-led coalition forces toppled the Saddam Hussein regime have tarnished the U.S.-imposed democracy in the volatile country, analysts say.

    The coalition troops started an invasion into Iraq by bombarding the Iraqi capital Baghdad on March 20, 2003, and swiftly brought down the administration of Saddam Hussein, who was earmarked as a cruel dictator by the United States and some other Western countries.  Full story

Protests planned across U.S. on 5th anniversary of Iraq war

    WASHINGTON, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Anti-war activists will carry out a series of protests across the United States on Wednesday to mark the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

    Hundreds of protests, rallies and marches will be staged in Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and other cities to demand a swift withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and to mourn those killed during the war, organizers said Tuesday.   Full story

Demonstrations held worldwide to condemn Iraq war

    BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Protesters took to the streets on Saturday in many cities across the world to condemn the U.S.-lead invasion of Iraq, according to reports reaching here on Sunday.

    In Los Angeles, some 2,000 people marched through Hollywood, holding banners denouncing President George W. Bush and urged an end to the conflict in Iraq, police said.  Full story

Anti-war activists stand in silence to mark five years of the war in Iraq during rush hour at Union Station in Washington March 18, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Anti-war activists stand in protest to mark five years of the war in Iraq during rush hour at Union Station in Washington March 18, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

An anti-war protestor attends a demonstration outside the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on March 19, 2008. Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in Washington on Wednesday to protest against the U.S.-led war in Iraq breaking out on March 20, 2003.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Anti-war protestors march during a demonstration in Washington D.C., the United States, on March 19, 2008. Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in Washington on Wednesday to protest against the U.S.-led war in Iraq breaking out on March 20, 2003. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Anti-war protestors hold a banner during a demonstration outside the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on March 19, 2008. Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in Washington on Wednesday to protest against the U.S.-led war in Iraq breaking out on March 20, 2003. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Anti-war protestors hold a demonstration outside the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on March 19, 2008. Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in Washington on Wednesday to protest against the U.S.-led war in Iraq breaking out on March 20, 2003. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

A placard reading "Out of Iraq" is seen during a demonstration outside the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on March 19, 2008. Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in Washington on Wednesday to protest against the U.S.-led war in Iraq breaking out on March 20, 2003.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

An anti-war protestor attends a demonstration outside the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on March 19, 2008. Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in Washington on Wednesday to protest against the U.S.-led war in Iraq breaking out on March 20, 2003. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>