November 3, 2004 - 7:08AM
Britain's most famous scientist, Stephen Hawking, has condemned the Iraq war as a "war crime" and said the US-led invasion was based on lies.
The physicist spoke during an event in London's Trafalgar Square at which protesters read out the names of thousands of Iraqis and coalition troops killed since the March 2003 invasion.
"The war was based on two lies," said Hawking. "The first was we were in danger of weapons of mass destruction and the second was that Iraq was somehow to blame for September 11.
"It has been a tragedy for all the families that have lost members.
"As many as 100,000 people have died, half of them women and children. If that is not a war crime what is?"
Hawking, the best-selling author of A Brief History Of Time, was joined by readers including London Mayor Ken Livingstone, playwright Harold Pinter, boxer Chris Eubank and actor Neil Pearson.
Britain's most famous scientist, Stephen Hawking, has condemned the Iraq war as a "war crime" and said the US-led invasion was based on lies.
The physicist spoke during an event in London's Trafalgar Square at which protesters read out the names of thousands of Iraqis and coalition troops killed since the March 2003 invasion.
"The war was based on two lies," said Hawking. "The first was we were in danger of weapons of mass destruction and the second was that Iraq was somehow to blame for September 11.
"It has been a tragedy for all the families that have lost members.
"As many as 100,000 people have died, half of them women and children. If that is not a war crime what is?"
Hawking, the best-selling author of A Brief History Of Time, was joined by readers including London Mayor Ken Livingstone, playwright Harold Pinter, boxer Chris Eubank and actor Neil Pearson.
