Anti-war protest outside Parliament

As British troops prepare for possible action in Iraq, opponents of war have protested outside Parliament.

Pop stars, members of parliament and thousands of antiwar demonstrators united to lobby Tony Blair's government, saying democracy had broken down in Britain.

Damon Albarn from Blur, Robert del Naja of Massive Attack, human rights activist Bianca Jagger and playwright Harold Pinter hoped to fire up British MPs to voice their opposition to military action in the Gulf.

"The proof is in the pudding. We don't believe bombing Iraq is the solution," Albarn said.

Wearing a badge that said "Peace" in both Arabic and English, Albarn said: "In the absence of a referendum this is the only way to show the government our opposition to war."

The Blur frontman continued: "I feel that it is something that I was brought up with, that war is never an answer. In this particular instance I don't think emotionally the country has any stomach for it.

"I don't think we have been consulted as a democracy. It is the wrong war."

Liberal Democrat MP Susan Doughty said: "Democracy is not working in Britain when the public is so opposed to military action but the government is sinking us deeper into the abyss of war."

The lobby was organised by Labour MP Alice Mahon, who united antiwar groups including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB).

"We want to fire up those MPs opposed to the war to maintain their resolve and to send a clear message to the government that the tide of opposition to war is swelling against them," CND spokesman Sam Akako said.

A poll in the Guardian newspaper suggested that support for military action was at its lowest point yet.

Despite Mr Blair's defence of his stance and the announcement of the discovery of empty chemical shells in Iraq, just 30 per cent of those quizzed supported the use of force, against 47 per cent who opposed it.

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