Anti-war activists in the UK took to the streets once more last night - exactly 10 years after almost two million people demonstrated against British involvement in the conflict in Iraq.
Estimates have put the civilian death toll from the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq in the hundreds of thousands. On top of that up to two million refugees.
The Stop the War Coalition staged a demonstration opposite Downing Street in Whitehall highlighting Britain's murderous role in Iraq and Afghanistan and how it has paved the way for intervention in Syria, the ongoing war in Mali and a possible attack on Iran.
Hundreds of Iraqi civilians have brought claims in the British courts alleging abuse by British forces, amid calls for a full independent public inquiry.
The al-Sweady inquiry into allegations that between 20 and 22 Iraqis were tortured and murdered in British custody following a firefight between British forces and insurgents in south-east Iraq in May 2004, will commence next month and could see senior politicians called to the stand.
Organisers of the event on February 15 2003 have maintained that while they failed to prevent the war, the protest helped alter government policy and has made it harder for the government to claim justification for further military intervention.
StWC convener Lindsey German, who was one of the organisers of the London protest a decade ago, said that it was an "absolute travesty of democracy" that Britain went ahead with the war.
"It was one of those very rare moments when people genuinely believed they could make a difference, so it was shameful that Blair ignored the protests and went ahead with his war," she said.
"He has got away with it but I would still like to see him brought to court.
"The MPs who voted in favour should be ashamed of themselves."
And Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament general secretary Kate Hudson said Blair "shall be tried for war crimes.
"CND put together a very strong legal case, but the buck has always been passed beyond him."
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