NZ Iraqis take their protest to streets

By REBECCA WALSH and NZPA

With a fake bloodied bandage wrapped around her arm, a 7-year-old Iraqi cries as she walks down Auckland's Queen St in protest at the war.

Asked why she is crying her father says she feels sad for all the people dying in Iraq.

"She asked me if I was in Iraq, would I be like them?

"I said 'yes'."

The Iraqi father and daughter were among a vocal group of about 120 protesters who chanted their opposition to America's attack on Iraq yesterday.

"Down, down USA" alternated with "go away USA" as children wearing red headbands proclaiming "no war" led women pushing prams from Aotea Square to the American Consulate in Customs St.

One man burned a picture of American President George W. Bush while others carried images of dead Iraqis emblazoned with the words "liberating Iraqi people by killing them, by burning them beyond recognition".

Saad Khayyat, who has lived in New Zealand for more than seven years, said the war was about the Middle East being "remade" to suit American interests.

"Every single person here opposes Saddam Hussein," he said, "but no one would accept that their country would be massacred ... Saddam Hussein will be got rid of one way or another by the people of Iraq who want to liberate themselves. Democracy is not something you bomb people into."

Walking slowly behind his wife and sons, Mr Khayyat said he had not heard from his brother, a surgeon in the city of Basra, for the past three days.

"All the phone lines are down ... there is no water, no electricity. There has been a big number of casualties, he's been very busy at work. I hope he's still alive to be honest."

There have been other protests elsewhere: a peace vigil in Thames, a weekend-long vigil by a small number of protesters outside the United States Embassy in Wellington and a bike ride for peace in Nelson.

In Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore urged women to lead the anti-war charge.

"Mothers of the United States and Britain have to rise up and say, 'Don't do this to our children'," he told more than 1000 people gathered at the Peace Action Network rally in Cathedral Square.

The anti-war protest march stretched for two blocks as it wound through city streets into the square, chanting and waving placards with such slogans as "No Blood for Oil", "Bush Butcher of the World", "Bush Blair Howard Axis of Evil", and "Genocide George".

Another had an image of Mr Bush with a Hitler-style moustache.

Iraqi immigrant Hussam Razzaq spoke to the crowd about the damage American smart bombs did in the last Gulf war and how about 75 per cent did not hit their target.

"There are no words to describe the still eyes of a dead child," he said.

Herald Feature: Iraq war