European protesters call for peace

Demonstrators protested Israel's military operation in Gaza yesterday in Marseille, southern France. The banner said ''Israel terrorist state, Europe accomplice.'' (Claude Paris/ Associated Press)

LONDON - Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in European cities yesterday against Israel's offensive in Gaza, including protesters who hurled shoes at the tall iron gates outside the British prime minister's residence in London.

Even before Israel announced a ground invasion of the territory yesterday, there were growing protests and international diplomatic efforts to end eight days of air strikes. Israel sent tanks and infantry into Gaza last night.

In London, at least 10,000 people, many carrying Palestinian flags, marched past Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Downing Street residence to a rally in Trafalgar Square. Outside Downing Street, hundreds of protesters stopped and threw shoes at the gates that block entry to the narrow road.

Shoe-throwing has become a popular gesture of protest and contempt since an Iraqi journalist assaulted President Bush with a pair of shoes in Baghdad last month.

Police estimated the crowd in London at 10,000 to 12,000, but organizers said the number was much higher. The marchers included activist Bianca Jagger, former Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox, and comedian Alexei Sayle.

"As a Jew, it's very moving to see so many people who are so outraged at Israel's actions," Sayle said. "Israel is a democratic country that is behaving like a terrorist organization."

After the rally, about 5,000 protesters marched on the Israeli Embassy in West London. Some youths burned Israeli flags and scuffled with police and hurled bottles and sticks at officers in riot gear. Several demonstrators were led away by police after leaping over metal barriers holding them back from the embassy.

Protest organizers accused police of charging into groups of demonstrators on the way to the embassy, and said they would file a complaint.

Rallies also were held yesterday in other British cities - including Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow - and across Europe.

Protests in Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, and Berlin all drew thousands of people.

In Paris, police said 21,000 marched through the streets, shouting "We are all Palestinians" and "Israel assassin."

Later, about 500 of the French protesters turned violent, throwing objects at police, burning Israeli flags, overturning and torching cars, and vandalizing several shops, police said. Ten police officers were injured in the clashes.

Angry protests continued for a second day in Turkey, where about 5,000 demonstrators shouted "killer Israel" in downtown Ankara.

Thousands of people marched through Amsterdam, criticizing both the Israeli attacks and the Dutch government's failure to condemn them. One banner declared: "Anne Frank is turning in her grave. Oh Israel!"

More than 4,000 people demonstrated in Duesseldorf, Germany, and some 5,000 in Frankfurt. One group in Duesseldorf held up a doll representing a bleeding baby with the placard "Made in Israel." In Berlin, more than 7,000 people marched on Unter den Linden boulevard. Another 2,500 demonstrated in Salzburg, Austria, while scores protested peacefully in Madrid.