Peace rallies oppose war on Iraq

Up to 2500 people marched through Christchurch and Dunedin yesterday to protest against the United States' push for war with Iraq.

Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore told the Canterbury rally that he had spent the past three weeks in London and had noticed a rapidly expanding peace movement in Britain and Europe.

He challenged people to walk past the September 11 firefighters' memorial beside the River Avon on their way home.

"It is a monument to people who stopped talking to each other. It is our warning. This is what happens," he said.

The Anglican Dean of Christchurch, Peter Beck, told the crowd: "What we hear and are told about the Iraqi situation in the context of other policies of American President George Bush's Administration, I am left with deep concerns as to the primary motives of the United States leadership."

In Dunedin, marchers carried placards saying "Disarm Bush, no more blood for oil".

Mayor Sukhi Turner told the crowd she hoped the rally was not a one-off event.

"We need to keep the momentum going. New Zealanders are essentially people of peace."

She called for New Zealand's armed forces to work for peace only and for bullies not to be tolerated.

"We will not tolerate the bullies of Iraq, the bullies of Korea and especially not the bullies of the United States."

The dean of St Paul's Cathedral, David Cappel-Rice, also spoke, as did representatives from the Presbyterian and Catholic Churches and other community groups.

Rally organisers called for signatures on a petition opposing New Zealand support for a war.

- NZPA

Herald feature: Iraq