British new Labour leader calls on gov't to help refugees

Jeremy Corbyn, new leader of British Labour Party, on Saturday joined thousands of people in central London for a rally in support of refugees, just hours after he won the election.

According to local media reports, the Solidarity with Refugees event on Saturday started at Park Line and proceeded to Downing Street.

Politicians, public figures, celebrities and activists joined the crowd, giving speeches in the Parliament Square.

Corbyn said in his acceptance speech that "the UK should respond with humanity, support and compassion... We must recognise that going to war creates a legacy of bitterness and problems. Let us be a force for change, humanity and peace in the world. We are one world."

In this afternoon, supporters of Corbyn also joined the event, waving banners of "refugees welcome" and other supporting messages.

Later in the speech in the Parliament Square, Corbyn urged British government to "recognise your obligations to help people which you're required to do by law, that would be good."

"Open your hearts and open your minds and open your attitude towards supporting people who are desperate, who need somewhere safe to live, want to contribute to our society, and are human beings just like all of us. Together in peace, together in justice, together in humanity, that surely must be our way forward," he said.

He said the refugees trying to flee to Britain were victims of wars, environmental degradation, poverty and human rights abuses. While the reason he joined the rally because "we are all humans, we all have a sense of decency, and humanity and reaching out to others."

British Prime Minister on Monday announced that Britain will accept 20,000 Syria refugees by 2020. However, comparing with the number of refugees expecting to be received by Germany, the action was criticized too "slim" by people from all walks of life. Endit