Thousands of protesters marched along London's Southbank today, calling for an immediate end to Israel's bombing of Gaza.

More than 400 Gazans have been killed, including 60 civilians, 34 of them children, and some 1,700 have been wounded since Israel began its aerial campaign on Saturday.

Israel launched the offensive after more than a week of Palestinian rocket fire that followed a six-month truce. Three Israeli civilians and one soldier have also died in rocket attacks that have reached deeper into Israel than ever before, bringing one eighth of Israel's population within rocket range.

Today's demonstration of 12,000 in London was the biggest of 18 rallies across the UK backed by celebrities such as singer Annie Lennox, comedian Alexei Sayle, writer Tariq Ali and former model Bianca Jagger.

Ms Jagger yesterday called on US president-elect Barack Obama to speak out against the bombings.

"People throughout the world were hopeful when he was elected and we must appeal to him to ask for the immediate cessation of the bombardment of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip."

Meanwhile, Lennox spoke of her shock at watching scenes of the bombing on television.

"A few days after Christmas I came downstairs, put the television on, and saw smoke pyres coming from buildings and I was shocked to the core. How was this going to be the solution to peace?"

Comedian Sayle said he was speaking out because it was important for Jewish voices to be heard.

"I want to feel proud of Israel, I want to be proud of my people but I am ashamed."

The demonstrations are the culmination of days of smaller protests around the country and outside the Israeli Embassy in Kensington, central London. A demonstration outside the Egyptian Embassy in London is also planned.

More than 30 organisations, including the British Muslim Initiative and the Stop the War Coalition have joined forces to organise the protest.

Other rallies took place at Blytheswood Square, Glasgow; Bedford Square, Exeter; Princes Street, Edinburgh; Bristol city centre; Bold Street, Liverpool; Norwich Forum; Portsmouth's Guildhall Square; Queen Victoria Square, Hull; Tunbridge Wells town centre; Leeds Art Gallery; All Saints Park, Manchester; Grey's Monument, Newcastle; Castle Square, Swansea; St Sampson's Square, York; Morrisons, Caernarfon; Bradford city centre; and Sheffield town hall.

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