Violence breaks out at pro-Palestinian march

FROM PRO-HAMAS literature to children as young as five chanting anti-Israel slogans, yesterday's rallies were perhaps the most incendiary yet.

- Isaac Crowson

Major demos took place in London, Manchester and Glasgow, with more than 100,000 people marching on the capital where police clashed with proPalestinian protesters as cries of "Allahu Akbar" rang out close to Downing Street.

Others chanted "Israel is a terror cell" and "Israel is a terrorist state".

In extraordinary scenes, children as young as five were chanting "from the river to the sea, Palestine must be free".

One demonstrator, whose child was joining the river chant, said: "This is for Palestine, there is nothing wrong with it."

Demonstrators let off fireworks and red and green flares, and one woman was knocked over and trampled by a police horse after the animal was startled.

Punches and kicks were thrown at officers, who ordered demonstrators to move away as they tried to make an arrest. One person was taken to the floor and carried away as the crowd chanted "let him go" and "Allahu Akbar", the Arabic phrase for "God is great".