Fed: Half a million Australians march against war

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Fed: Half a million Australians march against war

More than half a million Australians have taken to the streets and joined worldwideprotests against the looming war with Iraq.

But Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says he's not convinced the mass rallies, held sinceFriday, prove public opinion is against war.

In Sydney today, a crowd of more than 200,000 people forced police to change the destinationof a march through city streets.

The rally was to have ended at Hyde Park but police, fearing overcrowding, changedthe destination to the Domain.

In Adelaide, about 50,000 people marched through city streets today, carrying bannerspleading with Mr HOWARD not to send Australia to war.

The scenes were mirrored in Brisbane, where about 8,000 people rallied and in Darwinwhere about 2,000 people protested.

Today's demonstrations follow mass rallies in Melbourne on Friday and in Perth, Canberraand Hobart yesterday.

Mr HOWARD has told the Seven Network he doesn't know if public opinion can be measuredjust by the number of people who attend demonstrations.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman KEVIN RUDD says Mr HOWARD is out of touch withpublic opinion.

AAP RTV sl/jtbE

KEYWORD: IRAQ DEMO AUST (SYDNEY)