229 Minute Afghanistan Vigil, Cenotaph, London - pictures.

The day after another 5 British soldiers lose their lives in Afghanistan, peace campaigners gather at the Cenotaph War Memorial to hold a 229 minute vigil for each and every soldier killed so far.

Maria Gallastegui Arrested.

The Vigil Starts.

Police arrive.

Public support.

Schoolchildren asking questions.

Tourists taking pictures.

Police arrive again.

Phoning the 'incident' in.

Arrested and taken away.

The day after another 5 British soldiers lose their lives in Afghanistan, peace campaigners gather at the Cenotaph War Memorial to hold a 229 minute vigil for each and every soldier killed so far.

Earlier in the day the British MOD (Ministry of Defence) announce that five soldiers are killed after an Afghani police officer opens fire on them at a security facility at Nad e-Ali, Helmand Province.

In recent days the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated with a default declaration of President Hamid Karzai as Afghani President after the withdrawal of his primary opponent, Abdullah Abdullah.

The default has brought forward severe disenchantment amongst ordinary Afghanis and has enboldened partisan regional forces including the Taliban.

The soldiers die after an Afghani Police Officer they were training shot his commander and then opened fire on the soldiers. The attack is the second of its type during the election period with two American soldiers being killed last month, again by an Afghani policeman.

The campaigners are interrupted halfway through their vigil by Metropolitan Police officers who then arrest the campaigners before the 229 minutes can be reached.

London, UK. 04/11/2009

Terence Bunch
e-mail: terry.bunch@terencebunch.co.uk
Homepage: http://www.terencebunch.co.uk/PUBLIC/bring-them-home-troops-out-of-afghanistan-229-minutes-vigil-cenotaph-whitehall-london-04-11-2009.php