Calcutta has witnessed almost daily anti-war protests since the US-led strikes against Iraq began over three weeks ago.

Activists and supporters of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), youth wing of the ruling Marxist Communist Party of India, converged below the statue of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the city centre.

Police tried in vain to stop the surging crowds, but after an hour-long demonstration, the crowds dispersed peacefully.

"Break the black hands of the American President George W. Bush and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair," shouted the demonstrators.

They formed a circle from Nehru's statue to Park Street metro station covering a stretch of about three kilometres (two miles) and surrounded the American and British consulates. Armed police stood by.

"The aim of forming the human chain around the American and British consulates is to consolidate youth against the American aggression in Iraq and any country," Ishita Das, DYFI president, said.

"America launched the war against Iraq with a promise to uncover weapons of mass destruction. But, even after Saddam's rule crumbled, nothing could be found. It is open to all that it is a war with a hidden agenda."

SPACE.WIRE