UK: Syria protesters interrupt opposition leader speech

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) – A group of protesters interrupted Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn during a speech in London on Human Rights Day Saturday.

Protesters, led by Peter Tatchell, a human rights campaigner, demanded Labour leader to say more on humanitarian aid in Syria.

A puzzled Jeremy Corbyn paused his speech when protesters took the stage with placards regarding the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Some of them read “Back UK Aid Drops Now”, “Suspend Syria from the UN” and “Sanction Russia”.

"What's happening in Aleppo is a modern-day Guernica,” Tatchell said.

"We expect the leader of the Labour Party to speak up and demand a vote in Parliament on UK aid drops."

Corbyn told the protesters that the Labour Party did condemn the bombings after quickly consulting Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary.

"Emily Thornberry... has made it absolutely clear that we do think there should be aid given to people in Aleppo, we do think the bombing should end, we do think there should be a cease-fire, we do think there should be a political solution, we do think the war should end in Syria," Corbyn said.

December 10 marks the International Human Rights Day.