The protest outside US military headquarters in Heidelberg, southwestern Germany, was organised by trades unions, pacifist movements and other anti-war groups, who demanded an end to all German assistance towards the war.

Berlin is stanchly opposed to the war on oil-rich Iraq but is allowing US troops to overfly Germany and enjoy unfettered access to military bases in the country.

Protestors laid a wreath for the thousands of victims of the war, now in its 17th day, outside the entrance to the Heidelberg base.

Further anti-war demonstrations took place in other southwestern German cities. Some 250 people protested in Mannheim and another 80 linked up in Karlsruhe to form a living peace symbol.

SPACE.WIRE