LONDON, Feb 17: Britain’s anti-war protesters, buoyed by the biggest peace time protest in the country’s history, warned on Monday future marches could turn nasty if the government ignores them.

Speaking two days after a million people streamed through London in opposition to the government’s tough stance on Iraq, they called for strikes, sit-ins and civil disobedience if Prime Minister Tony Blair leads Britain into war.

Lindsey German, spokeswoman for the Stop the War Coalition which spearheaded Saturday’s protest, said Britons, famed for their reserve, would become troublemakers if war was declared.

“I think the day war breaks out there will be an eruption of rage and anger in this country which Tony Blair ignores at his peril,” she told Reuters.

“If you’re asking me if people will do violent things, I suspect they will, and they would do that whatever we said.”

Saturday’s march was almost entirely peaceful.

“We didn’t want any violence on the demonstrations and we didn’t get any, but I’m certain, I think there will be (violence) when war starts,” German said.

She said the coalition was urging trade unions to take industrial action at the outbreak of any war with Iraq, which Britain and the United States accuse of harbouring banned chemical and biological weapons.

The next big protest could be on March 8, International Women’s Day, when marches have been pencilled in for London and Manchester.

Depending on what happens in the Gulf, the demonstrations might continue until the traditional May Day celebrations on May 1, which have turned violent in past years as anti-globalisation activists and anarchists have taken to Britain’s streets.

While the Stop the War Coalition trumpeted the success of Saturday’s march, some media commentators questioned the motives of the demonstrators.—Reuters