NION: Sarandon, Robbins Join War Protest in NYC

NEW YORK — Thousands of demonstrators, including Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, gathered in Central Park on Sunday to protest a possible U.S. military strike against Iraq and what they called the United States' broader "war on the world."

Protest organizers said President Bush, motivated by a thirst for power and control of oil reserves, was lying to the country about the need for an attack on Iraq and the war against terrorism.

Iraq's oil reserves are the second biggest in the world after Saudi Arabia's.

The group that organized the afternoon rally, Not In Our Name, opposes "war on the world" by America, including alleged unnecessary detention of immigrants and curtailment of civil liberties since the Sept. 11 attacks.

"I think the power structure in this country is dead set on war," said Joe Urgo, a member of the group. "They are in a thirst for war."

Organizers said the crowd, which was centered in the park's East Meadow but spread to other sections, numbered at least 20,000.

Police, who declined to give a crowd estimate, said they issued two citations for disorderly conduct.

The protesters held signs saying, "Do Not Get Bushed Into War In Iraq." They chanted, "Resist, resist!"

Iraq is bolstering its stockpile of chemical and biological weapons and could have a nuclear weapon by 2010, according to a report by U.S. intelligence agencies issued Friday. The weapons programs are the Bush administration's chief complaint.

The rally came a day before Bush was to address the nation to outline the case against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Congress is expected to pass a resolution soon authorizing military action.