Arrests at anti-Israel protest march in Auckland

There have been arrests during a protest march in Auckland against Israeli military actions in Lebanon.

More than 200 people took part in the march in central Auckland today. The demonstration began in Aotea Square at one o'clock.

One protester got on to the awning above the footpath at the US Consulate in Customs St East and lowered the the American flag to half staff.*

He then began waving the Palestinian flag, to cheers from the crowd.

As he descended, several police moved in to arrest him, but scuffles broke out as other protestors tried to stop that happening.

The group Students for Justice from Auckland University and members of the Palestine Human Rights Campaign helped to organise today's march.

Several thousand anti-war protesters also gathered in Sydney today the Sydney Morning Herald has reported. Organisers were expecting up to 20,000 people to rally and demand an end to Israel's attack on Lebanon and Palestine.

- NEWSTALK ZB

* CORRECTION: In the original version of this report we stated incorrectly that the US flag had been "torn down". In fact, the flag was only lowered.