The brother of murdered hostage Ken Bigley has urged people to turn out in force today for an anti-war march in London.
The Stop The War Coalition hopes that up to 50,000 people will attend the event in London to demand the withdrawal of all troops from Iraq.
It is the culmination of the three-day European Social Forum in which thousands of trade unionists, environmental and peace campaigners and politicians have gathered to oppose war, racism and corporate power.
Mr Paul Bigley, the brother of Liverpool engineer Ken (62) who was beheaded in Iraq, called for people to join the march, which starts in Russell Square at 1 p.m. and ends with a rally at Trafalgar Square.
He said: "For Ken's sake and for the sake of everyone in Iraq I ask you to make your feelings known to our government, to protest and to join the demonstration.
"The more people raise their voices, the safer we will all be."
The Forum conference at Alexandra Palace in north London has held discussions on global justice, workers' rights and a sustainable society.
Among the speakers were Tony Benn; former Labour MP George Galloway; campaigning journalist John Pilger; union leaders Dave Prentis and Bob Crow; London Mayor Ken Livingstone; Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams; and Aleida Guevara, daughter of Che.
Various anti-war seminars have also taken place that attracted speakers from across Europe, including Kate Hudson, chairwoman of CND.
"With the US and Britain waging illegal war, threatening nuclear first-strike and developing new nuclear weapons, the issues of war and peace have never been so important," she said.
"The illegal war against Iraq and continued occupation is leading to increased death and an escalation of violence. The violence and the killing will not end until the occupation ends.
"This weekend people from all over Europe will show the world their opposition to Bush's warmongering policies and the support they have received from the British government."
PA