Protesters urge end to Afghan war

Soldiers and military families will be among those joining a Stop the War Coalition march in London later against UK military operations in Afghanistan.

Organizers say they hope thousands of people will take part in the march - the first since the war began in 2001.

It will be led by L/Cpl Joe Glenton, who is facing a court martial for refusing to return to Afghanistan.

The government said Afghanistan must become "stable and secure" before Nato forces could pull out.

'Disobeying orders'

The death of a British corporal in a blast on Thursday - since named as James Oakland, of the Royal Military Police - took the number of UK personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 222.

Demonstrators are expected to gather at Speakers' Corner, in Hyde Park, from 1200 BST on Saturday.

They will then march to Trafalgar Square where a rally will be held at about 1500 BST, with speakers including MP George Galloway and campaigner Tariq Ali.

L/Cpl Glenton will also give a speech despite being advised not to do so by military commanders.

Andrew Burgin, from the Stop the War Coalition, told the BBC News website: "He has just been told by his commanding officer that he should not enter the demonstration and he should not speak.

"He has decided to disobey those military orders."

L/Cpl Glenton, based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, is facing a court martial in November for alleged desertion after going absent without leave in 2007.

In an interview with BBC Radio York, L/Cpl Glenton's wife Claire said he was "proud" to be taking part in the march.

Lindsey German, convener of the coalition, said it would be the first time a serving soldier had openly attended a national anti-war demonstration.

"This shows how deep feeling against the war in Afghanistan goes," she said.

"Barack Obama and Gordon Brown will soon find that this war turns out to be their Vietnam if they keep pouring in troops."

Also speaking in Trafalgar Square will be Peter Brierley whose son, L/Cpl Shaun Brierley, was killed in Iraq.

Mr Brierley, from Batley in West Yorkshire, confronted former Prime Minister Tony Blair at a memorial service at London's St Paul's Cathedral, telling him: "You have my son's blood on your hands."

'Key to security'

A BBC survey carried out earlier this month suggested that most people in the UK still oppose Britain's military operations in Afghanistan.

Of 1,010 people polled, 56% were opposed, 37% in favor, 6% unsure and 1% refused to answer.

In 2006, 53% of those polled were opposed, and 31% were in favor.

A spokesman for the MoD said on Friday: "It is vital to the UK that Afghanistan becomes a stable and secure state that is able to suppress violent extremism within its borders.

"Britain's own security is at risk if we again allow Afghanistan to become a safe haven for terrorists, and that would be the result if Nato forces were to pull out of the country immediately."

Organizers of the march say they expect a "substantial turnout" on Saturday, possibly as many as 15,000 people.

In February 2003, an estimated one million took part in a march in London against the Iraq war.