The state Left Front chairman Biman Bose flagged off the mammoth procession by releasing a bunch of colorful balloons from a rally near Akashbani Bhavan in the presence of leaders of his party -- Communist Party of India (Marxism), besides those from the Communist Party of India and other parties.

Effigies of US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair were burnt by the angry protesters, whose number was estimated to be around 100,000 by police, amidst anti-war slogans.

The participants, carrying placards and tableaux, then began their procession, singing peace songs and shouting slogans against what they described as a "barbaric attack against humanity." "How many lives to a gallon?" cried a placard.

The rally's star attraction was former state Chief Minister and veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu, though he left after walking a few steps, according to the Press Trust of India.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee also walked along with the participants for some time. Many of his cabinet colleagues, leftist Member of Parliament, Members of Local Assembly and political party activists also walked shoulder-to-shoulder in the procession.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2003)