BBC News
Rallies mark Iraq war anniversary
"Protests are taking place around the world to mark the first anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq.
One of the biggest protests is in Rome, where tens of thousands of people have been marching through the city.
Thousands of people have also taken to the streets of London, where two protesters climbed the Big Ben clock tower near the Houses of Parliament.
Big demonstrations are also expected in the Spanish capital Madrid, as well as in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Security in Iraq itself has been tightened for the anniversary, and no official ceremonies have been organised to mark the day.
Many Australians are disappointed that the government ignored their voices
Anna Sampson, Sydney protester
In pictures: Anti-war protests
Correspondents say the majority of Iraqis are pleased that former President Saddam Hussein has been ousted, but resent the occupation of their country and are impatient to have their own government.
Speaking on the eve of the anniversary, US President George W Bush said differences over the Iraq war belonged to the past.
"Any sign of weakness or retreat simply validates terrorist violence and invites more violence for all nations," he said.
Millions unite
The day of worldwide rallies began in Australia and New Zealand, with protests held across Asia.
One year after the war, began passions are still riding high
Thousands of Australians took to the streets calling for the withdrawal of the 2,000 Australian troops serving in Iraq, who were deployed despite huge public opposition.
"By the end of this 24-hour cycle, millions of people will have marched throughout the world asking their governments not to take them to war and to give them peace," Pamela Curr, one of the Sydney protest organisers, said.
In Sydney, protesters carried a 1.5 meter (5 foot)-high effigy of Prime Minister John Howard in a cage to represent Australian suspects detained at the US military prison camp in Guantanamo Bay.
There is a dividing line in our world, not between nations and not between religions or cultures, but a dividing line separating two visions of justice and the value of life
President Bush
Bush speech extracts
In Tokyo, protest organisers said 30,000 people joined a march to voice opposition to Japan's involvement with the Iraqi occupation - Japan has sent 1,000 personnel to Iraq, its largest foreign deployment since World War II.
There were also protests in Thailand and the Philippines. In Hong Kong, about 100 demonstrators marched to the US Consulate, chanting slogans "Just peace, not war," and "Stop the war in the Middle East, for justice for peace".
The protests in the UK got off to an early start when two anti-war protesters from the group Greenpeace used mountaineering equipment to scale Big Ben.
It sparked concerns about security around the capital's landmarks, which is supposed to be at a high level to guard against a possible terrorist attack."
Rallies mark Iraq war anniversary
"Protests are taking place around the world to mark the first anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq.
One of the biggest protests is in Rome, where tens of thousands of people have been marching through the city.
Thousands of people have also taken to the streets of London, where two protesters climbed the Big Ben clock tower near the Houses of Parliament.
Big demonstrations are also expected in the Spanish capital Madrid, as well as in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Security in Iraq itself has been tightened for the anniversary, and no official ceremonies have been organised to mark the day.
Many Australians are disappointed that the government ignored their voices
Anna Sampson, Sydney protester
In pictures: Anti-war protests
Correspondents say the majority of Iraqis are pleased that former President Saddam Hussein has been ousted, but resent the occupation of their country and are impatient to have their own government.
Speaking on the eve of the anniversary, US President George W Bush said differences over the Iraq war belonged to the past.
"Any sign of weakness or retreat simply validates terrorist violence and invites more violence for all nations," he said.
Millions unite
The day of worldwide rallies began in Australia and New Zealand, with protests held across Asia.
One year after the war, began passions are still riding high
Thousands of Australians took to the streets calling for the withdrawal of the 2,000 Australian troops serving in Iraq, who were deployed despite huge public opposition.
"By the end of this 24-hour cycle, millions of people will have marched throughout the world asking their governments not to take them to war and to give them peace," Pamela Curr, one of the Sydney protest organisers, said.
In Sydney, protesters carried a 1.5 meter (5 foot)-high effigy of Prime Minister John Howard in a cage to represent Australian suspects detained at the US military prison camp in Guantanamo Bay.
There is a dividing line in our world, not between nations and not between religions or cultures, but a dividing line separating two visions of justice and the value of life
President Bush
Bush speech extracts
In Tokyo, protest organisers said 30,000 people joined a march to voice opposition to Japan's involvement with the Iraqi occupation - Japan has sent 1,000 personnel to Iraq, its largest foreign deployment since World War II.
There were also protests in Thailand and the Philippines. In Hong Kong, about 100 demonstrators marched to the US Consulate, chanting slogans "Just peace, not war," and "Stop the war in the Middle East, for justice for peace".
The protests in the UK got off to an early start when two anti-war protesters from the group Greenpeace used mountaineering equipment to scale Big Ben.
It sparked concerns about security around the capital's landmarks, which is supposed to be at a high level to guard against a possible terrorist attack."
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