LONDON, Jan 25: Members of a British anti-war group occupied the Glasgow offices of the BBC on Sunday, saying they would stay in the building until the national broadcaster agreed to air a charity fundraising appeal for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The occupation followed criticism from lawmakers and religious leaders who said the BBC’s decision not to air an advertisement from the Disasters Emergency Committee — a group of charities that includes the Red Cross, Oxfam, and Save the Children —- was wrong.

The comments by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and another senior church leader seemed likely to add pressure on the broadcaster, which rejected the advertisement because of concerns that showing it might harm its reputation for impartiality, and because it couldn’t be sure the money raised would reach those in need in the chaotic Palestinian territory.

“My feeling is that the BBC should broadcast an appeal,” Mr Williams said.

Mark Thompson, the BBC director-general, remained adamant against showing the advertisement. His comments came

in a blog posting on the BBC website.

Stop the War said it had about 100 people in the foyer of the BBC’s Glasgow offices. Strathclyde Police put the number of protesters at about 50, and said the protest was orderly and there had been no arrests.

The BBC would not comment on the demonstration.

“We want the BBC to show the Gaza appeal because we believe that the lives of people in Gaza are as important as those in every other part of the world,” Penny Howard, one of the protesters, told the AP in a telephone interview from the building.—AP