Anti-war protesters to target BBC

Anti-war activists will stage demonstrations outside BBC studios and offices across the country this week to protest at alleged “pro-Government bias” of the Corporation’s reporting on the conflict in Iraq.

Stop The War Coalition said the events were also to highlight the failure of BBC to cover a national demonstration in London last month.

In a letter to Mark Thompson, the BBC’s Director General, the group complained of a “systematic hostility” to the anti-war movement by the BBC.

“We estimate that 80-100,000 people attended the London protest,” said the letter.

“Speakers at the concluding rally included the chief foreign representative of the al-Sadr movement in Iraq, a major force in that country’s politics, parliamentary figures from the Labour, Liberal Democrat, Plaid Cymru and Respect parties, the well-known musician Brian Eno and the parents of several of the British soldiers who have died in Iraq, as well as an SAS soldier who had recently served there.

“It defies belief that you found this event unworthy of the slightest mention. Such an attitude can only undermine belief in the power of peaceful democratic protest.”

The protests will be held on Tuesday outside BBC buildings in London, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol and Cambridge.

A BBC spokeswoman said it was aware of the planned demonstrations, but would not be making any comment

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