The demonstrators sought to hand diplomats a petition in which they charged that "the agression against Iraq is against international law... (and) serves only to strenghten US hegemony and to push Europe back from world politics."

They found the embassies closed and marched on to parliament where they handed their petition to Speaker Katalin Szili and a representative of Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy's government.

In the document, the protestors said the government had violated Hungary's constitution by opening the country's airspace to the allies and allowing the US army to train Iraqi dissidents to work with them at a base in southern Hungary.

The carried banners proclaiming "This war is a crime! and "Stop the war!," and knelt down before the legislature.

One of the leaders of the demonstration said they did so in order "to experience what it feels like to fall on our knees of our own will, instead of being forced to do so by a bullet."

The protest was organised by the Civilians for Peace group, which organised a 20,000-strong demonstration against the Iraq war in February.

Demonstrations against the war rippled around the world on Saturday, sometimes turning violent.

WAR.WIRE