Protesters pay respects to war dead

Anti-war protesters met in Glasgow last week in a ceremony to marked the ten-year anniversary of the Afghanistan war.

Around 50 people gathered on the Clyde Street suspension bridge for the 'naming of the dead' memorial that was organised by the Stop the War coalition.

A list of 100 people who have died in the conflict was read out, alternating between Afghan civilians and British and American soldiers.

With every ten names read a white rose was thrown into the River Clyde to mark one year of the war.

Amongst the readers were chair of Scotland Stop the War coalition, Keir McKechnie, representatives from Scotland’s for Peace, and the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Members of Occupy Glasgow were also present.

Speaking after the event Nicola Fisher, chair of Glasgow Stop the War coalition, said: “It’s important to send a message to politicians and to the government that although they’ve continued very much against public opinion, the anti-war movement is still here.”

In reaction to Afghan president Hamid Karzai’s recent comments that Afghanistan would side with Pakistan in a war with the USA, Fisher said: “They’re neighbours, why wouldn’t they? This is the viper’s nest we‘ve got into in Afghanistan.

“It really illuminates what an absolute mess we’re in over there and what an absolute folly it’s been.”

Patrick Harvie MSP attended the event while Sandra White MSP and Humza Yousaf MSP were unable to attend but sent their regards.

In a letter read out during the ceremony SNP list MSP Yousaf said the people of Afghanistan were promised freedom and liberation but instead suffered shock and awe.

The war in Afghanistan started on 7 October 2001 and has been at the centre of much controversy and debate ever since.