Action Iran and CASMII march together against war

On Saturday 23rd September Action Iran and CASMII (Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran) joined over 50,000 protesters outside the Labour Party Annual Conference in Manchester. The demonstration called for the resignation of Tony Blair and an end to the UK government unconditional support for the US military adventures in the Middle East.

A key slogan on the demonstration and from speakers at the final rally in Albert Square was 'Don't Attack Iran'. Professor Abbas Edalat from Imperial College University of London warned, alongside others, of the necessity to sustain the anti-war movement. Referring to a Time magazine cover story revealing preparations for US marine deployment in the Persian Gulf, Edalat brought home the reality of the threat of a war with Iran. He called for end to the US/UK aggression and immediate negotiations between the US and Iran without any precpnditions, drawing parallels between the Iranian nuclear issue and the threat of Saddam's supposed-WMDs in the run-up to war with Iraq. Other speakers stressed the importance applying such pressure that Blair's eventual successor would be given no option other than refusing British support for another war.

The Stop the War coalition, who organised the protest, also planned an Alternative conference today to discuss the situation in the Middle East and the next challenges for the movement. Action Iran and CASMII have organised a workshop on Iran, alongside others in the conference discussing issues from Palestine to climate change. The Iran workshop takes place at 3.30pm- 5pm today.

'Iran and the US war drive in the Middle East', taking place on Monday 25th September at SOAS in London, will become Action Iran/CASMII's final joint-meeting in September. The co-ordinated activity has been part of a strategy of a merger given the increasing threats of war.