NEW YORK, Nov 12: Hundreds of people turned out for an anti-war demonstration on Thursday night, protesting US-led war in Iraq and the latest American offensive in Fallujah in which more than 18 American soldiers and over 500 Iraqis have reportedly been killed.

Parents and children of the soldiers engaged in the offensive also joined in calling for the return of US soldiers from Iraq, terming the war unjust. The protest demonstration was organized by United for Peace and Justice, the first such rally since President George Bush was re-elected on November 2. The UFPJ had also organized a large antiwar protest in August.

The protesters carried signs reading "Stop the assault on Fallujah" and "End the occupation of Iraq" and singing "Stop the bombings, bring the troops back" to the beat of drums.

The protesters also gathered in front of the offices of New York's Democratic senators Hillary Clinton and Charles Schummer, calling on them to force the Bush administration to end the offensive in Iraq and bring the troops back.

Mothers and fathers addressed the rally calling for return of their loved ones from Iraq. "The military's goal for this action is to crush the insurgency in Iraq - but all evidence suggests that it will backfire, swelling the ranks of terrorist groups rather than eradicating terrorism, while costing far too many Iraqi and American lives," the UFPJ said.