Thousands of women around the world used International Women's Day to call for a peaceful resolution to the conflict with Iraq.

During a march in Istanbul Saturday, protesters urged their government not to allow American troops to use Turkey as a springboard to attack Iraq.

A proposal to allow the deployment of about 60,000 U.S. troops was blocked in the Turkish parliament last week. While the government considers holding a second vote, it's allowing the United States to upgrade two military bases in case there is a war.

Thousands rally in Istanbul
Thousands rally in Istanbul

As the women marched, the U.S. military continued to unload equipment in the Turkish port of Iskenderun, not far from the Iraqi border.

Turkey also continued its own military buildup along the border with Iraq. Hundreds of trucks and tanks have been sent to the border to an area declared off-limits to journalists.

Turkey has said it will send troops into northern Iraq if there is a war to stem a flood of refugees. It's also worried that Iraqi Kurds could enter Turkey and become key allies of the U.S. in any war to depose Saddam Hussein.

The Turkish deployment of troops sparked a protest in London Saturday. Hundreds of Iraqi Kurds gathered outside 10 Downing Street to deliver a letter Prime Minister Tony Blair's office.

The Kurds chanted "Death to Saddam" and "No to Turkish invasion."

Protests in Canada, U.S.

Antiwar protests were also held across Canada, in Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa and Vancouver.

A crowd consisting mostly of women marched to the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, carrying signs that read "Code Pink Alert for Peace." A few demonstrators leading the march dyed their hair pink.

Similar protests were staged in the United States. In Washington, hundreds of people gathered in a park not far from the White House.

Members of the Code Pink Women's Peace Vigil stopped at the U.S. embassies of France, Russia, Turkey, Mexico and Chile to thank them for opposing a U.S.-led war with Iraq.

Lynn Woolsey, a Democrat in the House of Representatives, told peace activists in the U.S. capital to continue with their cause.

"Throughout the country and throughout the world, more and more voices are rising in protest against the war, and don't think you're not being heard, because you are," she said.