LAHORE, March 23: Italian peace activist Silvana Guvanchi and Ms Miriam led a procession taken out from the Lahore Press Club here on Tuesday by the Peace and Rights Race to highlight the important of peace for progress.

Mr Guvanchi, the president of the Italian peace body, and Ms Miriam had arrived here specially to participate in the rally taken out to condemn the continued occupation of Iraq by the US forces on the first anniversary its invasion.

The rally participants carried the seven-colour flag of the Italian peace organization along with banners and placards on which they had written slogans condemning war and favouring the peace.

They dispersed after reaching the LDA plaza on the Egerton Road because the police did not allow them to march to the Punjab Assembly and light candles.

Peace and Rights Race organizer Raja Abbas Ali condemned the US policy of interference in the affairs of other countries and launching offensives against weak countries like Iraq and Afghanistan for refusing to accept its dictation.