Protests in London over UK intervention in Syria

As many as several thousand people protested in London on Saturday against the possibility of British airstrikes in Syria, as the country's lawmakers remained divided over the possibility of expanding military intervention in the region.

Exact numbers at the protest - organized by the Stop the War Coalition movement - had yet to be determined, with the Associated Press reporting that "hundreds" had taken part in the demonstrations, while the AFP news agency put the number at roughly 4,000.

The demonstrations came amid calls for the UK to continue strikes against the "Islamic State" (IS) terrorist organization. On Friday, French President Francois Hollande urged UK officials to remain committed to the fight against IS, as France itself has stepped up airstrikes in the region.

Labour divided

The British Parliament plans to vote over the matter in the coming week, as Prime Minister David Cameron pushes for an expanded military role in the region. The UK is currently participating in US-led airstrikes in Iraq.

The opposition Labour Party, which is headed by far-left politician Jeremy Corbyn, remains deeply divided over the issue. Corbyn, himself a former chairman of the Stop the War Coalition, opposed the airstrikes. Some of his colleagues, however, have said they support military intervention in Syria.

In 2013, Cameron attempted to push airstrikes in Syria through Parliament but was defeated.

Around 5,000 people also took to the streets in Madrid to protest against possible military action in Syria. Spain, like the UK, was the target of a terrorist attack after it intervened in Iraq.

blc/rc (AP, AFP)