Human shield convoy departs London

A group of volunteers headed for Iraq on 25th January 2003 to act as human shields to try to prevent the outbreak of war which the United States and Britain have said will take place if Saddam Hussein fails to disarm.

The 'human shields' campaign is the brainchild of Ken Nichols O'Keefe, a former US marine, who in December 2002 decided that people power was needed to try to stop the US and its allies from going to war with Iraq. On the nine day trip across Europe, the group hope to rally support.