They were also to protest outside a petrol station. Police said the demonstration was peaceful, with no reported arrests.

Global Peace and Justice Auckland (GPJA) spokesman John Minto claimed that since the war began last month the New Zealand Herald had been become "blatantly biased", but he acknowledged its recent independent editorial line and balanced reportage.

In a letter delivered to TVNZ chief executive Ian Fraser, the protesters claimed its news service had become a "mouthpiece and visual portal for an unrelenting stream of bald US/UK propaganda and blatant lies".

The letter noted the state-owned broadcaster had shown "uncritical footage" from embedded journalists who "were chosen in the first place for their willingness to have their stories and pictures censored by the Anglo-American forces".

The marchers were also to visit the British and Australian consulates before finishing with a rally outside the US consulate.

Around 200 people protested in the capital Wellington Saturday afternoon as part of rallies organised in major cities around the world this weekend to call for an end to the US-led war.

SPACE.WIRE