Tens of thousands took to thestreets in Asia today voicing strong opposition to the warin Iraq as the US State Department said the conflict hadincreased the chances of anti-American violence in Indonesia.
Large crowds staged protests in many Australian cities,while in Pakistan more than 50,000 gathered for a "million manmarch", which fell far short of expectations.
Thousands also staged protests in mainly Muslim Afghanistanand Bangladesh.
In Australia, whose special forces are deep inside Iraq, upto 30,000 people chanting "No war, no war", blowing whistlesand thumping drums brought traffic to a standstill in Sydney,the nation's largest city.
In the capital Canberra, about 5,000 people gathered infront of parliament to scatter flower petals in the shape ofgiant peace signs and to wave signs urging drivers to "honk forpeace".
A life-sized papier-mache figure of US President GeorgeW Bush leading a dog wearing a face mask of Australian PrimeMinster John Howard towered above the Sydney crowd.
Australia has deployed around 2,000 military personnel tothe Gulf including fighter jets, warships and 150 specialforces. The majority of Australians oppose the country'sinvolvement in the conflict, polls show.