Tens of thousands of people rally in France for Gaza peace

Source: Xinhua | 01-11-2009 08:50

PARIS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of people rallied in Paris and other cities across France on Saturday to protest the war in Gaza, just a week after 21,000 Palestinian supporters marched in the French capital for Gaza peace, French sources said.

A proPalestinian demonstrator lights a candle during a  protest in Paris against Israel's offensive on Gaza Jan. 10, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Police sources said that some 30,000 people took part in demonstrations across central Paris. The rally organizers, however, claimed that the number of participants reached 100,000.

A woman takes part in a demonstration against Israel's offensive in Gaza Strip in Marseille, Jan. 10, 2009.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

In all, nearly 123,000 people attended demonstrations in 130 cities across France on Saturday, to denounce the Israeli offensive and support Palestinians in Gaza, said the French Interior Ministry. Besides Paris, large rallies were also held in Lyon, Marseille and Lille. Clashes were reported in Paris and Nice, with seven policemen injured and eleven people arrested. News reaching here from other parts of Europe said that pro-Palestine demonstrations also took place in other big European cities on Saturday.