Thousands of people took to the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Saturday in protest against the Iraq war.

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) spokesman Norma Eisenman estimated that between 5,000 and 6,000 people showed up for the demonstration.

Shouting anti-war slogans, the protesters called for an early withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Vietnam veteran Ed Ellis, 59, said he hoped the demonstration would be the "tipping point" against a war that has killed more than 3,200 U.S. troops and engulfed Iraq in a deadly cycle of violence.

The demonstration was peaceful, Eisenman said, noting there were no reports of arrests or other incidents.

An anti-war rally and concert would be held in downtown area later in the day.

Similar anti-war demonstrations were also held across the United States, including a flagship march in Washington D.C. on Saturday, to mark the fourth anniversary of the ground invasion of Iraq on March 20, 2003.

Source: Xinhua