The city's firebrand mayor, A.B.M. Mohiuddin Chowdhury, led the protestors who marched through the streets shouting slogans against the United States and Britain and torched dozens of effigies of US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The mayor, who is also a leader of the main opposition Awami League, announced a 10-day protest programme in the city which includes hoisting black flags in memory of Iraqi civilians killed in the US-led bombings.

He also threatened to raise Bangladeshi volunteers to fight for Iraq.

Police guarded offices and businesses linked to the United States and Britain.

The tight security follows violence which erupted during an anti-war demonstration by Islamists in the capital Dhaka on Friday, when American offices came under attack.

Bangladesh, the world's third largest Muslim majority country, has repeatedly called for an end to the war and has seen almost daily anti-US and anti-war protests.

SPACE.WIRE