The Rafah march was called by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah party and drew more than 4,000 protestors, an AFP correspondent at the scene reported.

They were chanting "No to the US and British aggression against Iraq," "With our blood, with our souls we support you Iraq," "Oh Saddam, our beloved, strike, strike Tel Aviv."

Addressing the crowd, local Fatah leader Ziad Sarfandi urged Arab countries to "close your borders to the Americans," while describing the US-led attack as a "new occupation in the region."

"We stand by our Iraqi brothers and must oppose this aggression and war."

The marchers burned US, British and Israeli flags as well as effigies of US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Several were carrying pictures of Arab leaders across which was written "America's gang" and three coffins each bearing the words "UN," "Arab League" and "Arab armies" on their sides.

And in Gaza City, hundreds of marchers also protested against the Iraq war in a demonstration organized by the Arab Liberation Front, linked to Iraq's ruling Baath party, headed by President Saddam Hussein.

Also in Gaza City, doctors and health workers also staged a demonstration ostensibly to mark World Health Day, but likewise denouncing the "US and British aggression against the Iraqi people, their land and health infrastructure."

SPACE.WIRE