WITH the sun shining in London thousands of people turned out to mark the second anniversary of the war on Iraq, writes Gareth Bethell.

I would call them protesters but marching from Hyde Park, past the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square and up to Trafalgar Square you got the distinct impression that many of those involved were there for the experience rather than any deep seated political beliefs.

The Stop the War Coalition, which organized the event, say 100,000 people took part.

Personally I think someone must have been counting the pigeons as well to get to that number and the police put the figure at less than half of that 45,000.

The majority of people I saw were young adults, with banners in one hand and ice lollies in the other.

The organisation of the proceedings was impressive and even though the turnout was larger than expected there were piles and piles of placards for people to pick up and wave around.

These ranged from the anti-war to the anti-Blair to the anti-American.

Anything goes as long as it's anti. But the placards seemed for many people to be an accessory rather than an expression of their beliefs.

A number of marchers I spoke to couldn't tell me what was written on what was in their hands without bringing it down to look at. Talk about mob mentality.

It also became clear right from the start that this was about more than 'bringing our troops home'.

There were different groups there, each with their own agendas.

I was handed enough leaflets to publish a book, all on different issues like 'Free Palestine', 'SOS Colombia' and the old favourite, 'Boycott Coca-Cola'.

But it's not the leafleteers I have a problem with, or even the people making money out of the protest by selling whistles.

It's the fact that so many people treated it as a day out. Taking part in a political protest is a big deal and to do it because it's a nice day or Chris Martin from Coldplay says it's a good idea undermines that whole thing.

And if you don't know what you're marching for, what's the point?