Thousands took to the streets Saturday for a massive march, calling for an immediate withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq.

Anti-war demonstrators rallied at Union Square before beginning their march in downtown Manhattan. The march stepped off shortly after noon from Union Square, with the demonstrators heading to down Manhattan for a rally at Foley Square.

"End this war, bring the troops home," read one of the many signs carried by protesters. Cindy Sheehan, a strong critic of the war whose 24 year-old son died in Iraq, joined the march, along with Rev. Jesse Jackson and actress Susan Sarandon.

The military announced earlier Friday that at least 70 troops have been killed in Iraq this month alone. According to Pentagon statistics, 2,401 U.S. soldiers have been killed since the war began. The news made several labor and community leaders lash out at the Bush Administration.

"A government that can't provide health benefits, pensions, education for its own has no business telling people around the world how they should live, has no business conducting an illegal war across the world has no business at all," said Transit Workers Union President Roger Toussaint.

The organizers said the march was also meant to express opposition to any military action against Iran. The march was organized by the group United for Peace and Justice.

Demonstrators stretched for about 10 city blocks as they headed down Broadway. Police declined to given an estimate of the size of the crowd, but organizers claimed there were 300,000.

Police had a strong presence among the thousands of marchers, but no arrests or incidents were reported.

Source: Xinhua