The demonstrators waved placards reading "No war -- behind every bush is a terrorist", "No blood for oil" and "Bush = 666", and brought traffic to a standstill as they marched about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the township of Katutura to the US embassy in Windhoek.

"We are against war in whatever form and more so if it is not sanctioned by the United Nations," one of the march's organisers, Evalustus Kaaronda, told a US public affairs officer.

The demonstrators, who also marched to the British high commission (embassy) and the offices of the United Nations, handed over a petition demanding coalition troops withdraw from Iraq immediately.

"The ongoing war is illegal, illegitimate, barbaric, genocidal, murderous and its proponents have no moral support for it even in their home countries. The soldiers fighting this war are paid murderers," the petition read.

The demonstration was organised by the National Union of Namibian Workers, the ruling South-West Africa People's Organization, the Council of Churches and the Namibia National Women's Association.

SPACE.WIRE