A NEW local group has been set up to campaign against the Government's military action in Afghanistan.

The Lancaster and District Coalition Against The War was formed following a packed meeting of more than 80 people at the Phoenix Club last week.

The meeting was organised by a broad range of organisations and individuals who are united in their opposition to military action.

Several speakers said that the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon were unjustifiable in any respect but that equally a military campaign in response to the attacks was unjustifiable and unnecessary.

Several people in the meeting pointed out that those responsible for the attacks could and should be brought to justice under the auspices of the United Nations and that a military response in Afghanistan was likely to increase the risk of further terrorist attacks.

Others said it will worsen the humanitarian disaster now unfolding in Afghanistan and Pakistan and that the so called 'war against global terrorism' is already posing a serious threat to basic democratic rights and civil liberties in our own country.

A peace vigial has been organised on Saturday, October 13, at 12 noon and a demonstration and rally will take place in Market Square.

A spokesman said: "All those who oppose this war are urged to join us in protest. More than 50 people turned up with just two hours notice on Sunday night when the bombing started. The Coalition is made up of different people from several organisations, political parties, religious groups and members of the local Muslim community. It was pointed out by one protestor that when we hear in the media of 'military targets' being hit we should remember the reports coming out of Afghanistan which say that the Taliban are now conscripting by force children as young as thirteen into their forces."

The group decided to hold a weekly vigil every Saturday outside Lancaster City Museum between 11am and 12 noon. It was agreed that the vigil would be the weekly focal point for the Coalition where people will meet to exchange information and ideas.