In the US, San Francisco, where police arrested a record number of more than 1,300 people on Thursday, was once again the scene of noisy protests, though of far less intensity. Police said they detained about 200 people by late afternoon and expected more arrests into the evening.
A rally in New York's Times Square rally was much smaller and tamer than Thursday's, with only 150 protesters on another rainy day. Organizers were expecting tens of thousands to march yesterday. San Francisco and other cities planned large yesterday rallies, as well.
The Friday protests against US President George W. Bush's decision to wage war against Iraq were the latest wave around the world that extended from Asia, across the Middle East, Europe, and the US to its western shores.
Following a Thursday anti-war protest in Chicago with as many as 10,000 demonstrators, hundreds of protesters turned out Friday morning there to surround a federal office building.
They lay down in front of the building entrances and disrupted adjacent rush-hour traffic before police in riot gear moved in, clearing a path and making dozens of arrests.
Other parts of America rallied on Friday in support of the troops in Iraq. Middle school children in Dallas suburbs put their regular classes on hold as they sent messages of encouragement to US troops.
Some demonstrators beat drums and painted their faces in patriotic colors. "We're in the red, white and blue because we feel it's not patriotic to invade another country and force democracy when President Bush is already shredding the constitution at home," said Mark Messing, 45, an artist. "It's patriotic to dissent."
In Chicago, more than 500 people were arrested on Thursday night in a largely peaceful protest that blocked a key lake-front artery. Organizers said seven or eight demonstrators suffered injuries.
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