http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/hundreds-arrested-in-protest/2007/09/16/1189881340899.html
Hundreds arrested in Iraq 'die-in' protest Collared . police grapple with an anti-war protester in front of the US Capitol. Almost 200 people were arrested, including war veterans. Photo: AFP Michelle Boorstein, Dion Hayne and Allison Klein in Washington September 17, 2007 A MARCH by thousands of protesters demanding an end to the Iraq war turned chaotic near the US Capitol, where hundreds sprawled on the ground in a symbolic "die-in", and police arrested almost 200 people, including war veterans. Police used a chemical spray against some protesters and pushed back others who tried to jump a barrier in a self-described effort to be arrested. The "die-in", on a walkway in front of the Capitol building on Saturday, was generally peaceful until scores of protesters were arrested when they tried to climb over metal fences and a low stone wall. Phil Aliff, 21, marched wearing his US Army jacket as part of a group called Iraq Veterans Against the War. He first arrived in Iraq in July last year. "I stayed there for a year, in Abu Ghraib and outside Fallujah," he said. "When we arrived, we were told we were here to bring stabilisation to the country. But we were not rebuilding anything. The Iraqis had only two hours of electricity. And I saw the atrocities committed by the Americans there." He spoke days after the top US general in Iraq, David Petraeus, testified before Congress, giving an optimistic report on conditions in Iraq and the effectiveness of President George Bush's "surge" strategy of adding more US troops to the fight. "General Petraeus's report is incredibly far from the reality on the ground," Mr Aliff said. The arrests were an unruly end to a day that started in brilliant sunshine with two separate, largely upbeat rallies. One began about noon at Lafayette Square, across from the White House. The other, a few hours earlier, was organised by Gathering of Eagles, a group of Vietnam War veterans, and the conservative group Free Republic. Their message: the Iraq war can be and is being won, and American troops need unqualified support. "We just want a chance to show America we don't agree with the vocal minority," said a protester, Deborah King-Lile, 55. Later Lafayette Square took on a festive atmosphere, with some war protesters wearing wigs and costumes and others drumming and playing music as passionate speeches were delivered. Vietnam War veterans chatted to Iraq war veterans young enough to be their children. The highest percentage ever of Americans - 62 per cent - now believe the war is a mistake, while 59 per cent believe it is not worth American lives, according to a New York Times/CBS poll. The Washington Post, Associated Press [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
