Thousands protest in Spain against war in Syria

Thousands of people throughout Spain protested on Saturday against the war in Syria in a series of concentrations which were accompanied by both politicians and famous personalities.

The anti-war manifesto, "No en nuestro nombre" (Not in our name), which has gathered 34,000 signatures during the past week was presented in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Zaragoza, Murcia and other major population centers.

Several thousand gathered opposite the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid in the presence of Mayor of Madrid Manuela Carmena and actors Pilar Bardem and Alberto San Juan.

Part of the manifesto reads that "if the response to barbarity means suspending civil rights, cutting back on freedom and locking ourselves in our homes, the victory of terrorism is complete. If we respond to the pain of the victims by provoking more pain for other innocents, then the spiral will be unstoppable ... not in our name."

The manifesto was also supported by Ana Colau, the Mayor of Barcelona and Joan Ribas, who is Mayor of Valencia.

"The winds of wars are being felt once again in Europe and we want to say 'no to the war' with clarity."

"It will not solve the problems nor resolve the issue of terrorism, we have seen that in the past and we don't want to repeat the errors of the past. We need to resolve the issues related to the financing o terrorism and the problems that we have in Europe in poor areas of our cities," insisted Ribas.

It is still unclear what role Spain will play in the fight against Daesh (the Islamic State) with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy so far avoiding any questions on the issue in the campaign for the forthcoming general election. Endit