The Stop the War Coalition expected several thousand people to gather outside the embassy in Mayfair, central London, marching from the headquarters of the BBC to protest against its alleged biased coverage of the war.

The march was due to begin at 2:00pm (1300 GMT).

Andrew Murray, chairman of the coalition that groups some 300 anti-war organisations, said support for the war among Britons, which had increased since the start of hostilities on March 20, was now declining.

"People feel misled by the government, especially as they begin to realise how badly the war is hitting Iraqi civilians and British soldiers," Murray said.

"Activities over this weekend will be another opportunity to tell the government: 'Not in our name'."

Protests were also planned Saturday at an Royal Air Force base at Fairford, in the west of England, where 14 US air force B-52 bombers have been stationed since before the war.

Several of the long-range aircraft have been used to stage air strikes on Iraq.

Elsewhere in Europe, anti-war demonstrations were scheduled this weekend in several cities in Germany, outside the US air base at Aviano in northeast Italy, and in Moscow.

A major demonstration is planned in London next Saturday to coincide with a rally in Washington.

Security at the US embassy in London has been tight since the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, with concrete barriers and a chain-link fence surrounding the premises.

On February 15, more than one million people took to the streets of London to protest the then looming war on Baghdad in what police said was the largest demonstration in the British capital.

On March 22, two days after the start of hostilities, between 200,000 and 700,000 people protested in the British capital.

SPACE.WIRE