Protestors gather in London on Afghan war anniversary

Protestors gathered in the Trafalgar Square to mark 10 years of the war in Afghanistan, while calling on the British government to withdraw troops from the country immediately. The Stop The War Coalition said up to 5,000 people, including musicians, actors, film-makers and lawmakers at the Anti-war Mass Assembly joined the anti-war activities, and headed along Whitehall towards the Downing Street. "After 10 years of war in Afghanistan, more than 100,000 NATO troops remain and tens of thousands have died," a spokesman for the Stop The War coalition noted. "The government claims that the war is contributing to Britain's stability look increasingly hollow," he said. "Opinion polls suggest the majority of Britons want a speedy withdrawal of British troops. Politicians have to get in step with public opinion and announce a date to bring troops home," he added. Demonstrators also held a ceremony to read out 120 names of British soldiers and Afghan civilians who have died in the 10 years since the war began, and the same number of balloons was released. Until now, the number of British military deaths in operations in Afghanistan stands at 382