Raw; Pro Palestinian Protesters Attack Police in London
People protesting Israel's assault on Gaza throw bottles and metal at mounted police in London.
• London protest against Gaza conflict grows unruly
Story Highlights
Three arrested after protest becomes unruly, officer knocked out
Organizers expect 100,000; police say 20,000 outside Israeli Embassy
Similar demonstrations take place in other British cities
Conflict continues despite
More..U.N. resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Thousands of demonstrators marched through London, England, on Saturday calling for an immediate end to the violence in Gaza.
A protester swings a club at a police horse Saturday night near London's Israeli Embassy.
1 of 2 Organizers including the Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign expected more than 100,000 people to join the march to protest Israel's ongoing attacks on Gaza.
Fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas has entered its third week and goes on in defiance of Thursday's United Nations resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.
London Metropolitan Police said at the peak of the protests, up to 20,000 people were gathered outside the Israeli Embassy.
A police officer was knocked unconscious Saturday night as the protests turned unruly, the police said.
The crowd dismantled barriers placed in front of the embassy and began pelting officers with sticks, rocks and pieces of the metal barriers, police said. Three people were arrested. Watch demonstrators throw bottles, metal at police »
The Guardian newspaper said celebrities -- including musicians Brian Eno and Annie Lennox -- spoke at a rally before the procession, which went from Hyde Park to the Israeli embassy in Kensington, West London.
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The Times newspaper reported that Lauren Booth, the sister-in-law of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, also spoke at the rally.
During her speech, she criticized Blair over his attempts to bring about a successful resolution to the conflict.
"Tony Blair's only comment regarding the cease-fire has been to say that it can only take place after the tunnels in Gaza are destroyed," The Times quoted her as saying.
"What he is suggesting means that after the massacre, people will have no access to food, kerosene and medicines that came through those tunnels. That is not a cease-fire, that is a slow agonizing death."
Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone issued a statement backing the demonstration in London.
"Every day we see appalling pictures of children slaughtered by Israeli bombs, missiles and other sophisticated weapons," he said. "Yet with more than 700 dead and thousands more seriously wounded, the international community is allowing Israel to continue its completely disproportionate onslaught accompanied by an Orwellian litany of lies."
Meanwhile, The British Press Association reported that similar demonstrations took place in other British cities, including Newcastle and Edinburgh. iReport: Protests across the Channel in Paris
Thousands took part in a rally through the center of the Scottish capital calling for an end to the military campaign. About 300 shoes and red paint were thrown toward the U.S. consulate in the Scottish capital, PA said
Source: CNN
Added On January 10, 2009 Less..
Added: Jan 10 2009 In: news_politics
By: bellava Premium 
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