London: Tens of thousands of people on Saturday demonstrated against British Government's cuts in public spending in one of the biggest protests in the capital since the rally against war in Iraq in 2003.
Around 400,000 activists and campaigners descended on London, far outstripping the 100,000 anticipated by organisers the Trade Union Congress (TUC). The centre of the capital was brought to a halt by swarms of protesters.
Spin-off groups staged a sit in on Shaftesbury Avenue and violence erupted on Oxford Street in central London.
The TUC said the number of people in the march to London's Hyde Park had well exceeded their expectations.
There are fear that scores of violent anti-capitalist demonstrators could hijack the demonstration and cause chaos in London's West End.
In the early afternoon, a breakaway group threw paint at shops on Oxford Street and released flares as Labour leader Ed Miliband spoke to the main protesters in Hyde Park.
The Labour leader defied calls to stay away in case the protest descended into anarchy and attempted to use the occasion to argue that his party offered an 'alternative'.
Labour leader Miliband described the gathering as 'extraordinary' and declared himself 'profoundly moved'. He even likened the action to the anti-apartheid movement.
"We come in the tradition of movements that have marched in peaceful but powerful protest for justice, fairness and political change," he said.
"The suffragettes who fought for votes for women and won. The civil rights movement in America that fought against racism and won. The anti apartheid movement that fought the horror of that system and won. The cause may be different but in coming together today to realise our voice, we are standing
on the shoulders of those who have marched and struggled for great causes in the past."
The Trades Union Congress organised the march to Hyde Park, culminating in a rally.
"Our struggle is to fight to preserve, protect and defend the best of the services we cherish because they represent the best of the country we love. We know what the government will say that this is a march of the minority. They are so wrong," Miliband said.
He said, "(Prime Minister) David Cameron, you wanted to create the big society. This is the big society. The big society united against what your government is doing to our country. We stand today not as the minority, but as the voice
of the mainstream majority in this country."
Earlier, Education Secretary Michael Gove acknowledged the public concerns about the planned cuts, but insisted that the Government would not be deflected from its strategy.
"Of course people will feel a sense of disquiet, in some cases anger, at what they see happening, but the difficulty we have as the Government inheriting a terrible economic mess, is that we have to take steps to bring the public finances back into balance," he said.
The Unite general secretary saluted the violent protests by students last year, saying, "I was so proud of them. I think that is an indication of what we all have to do."
Scotland Yard have put 4,500 officers on the streets for the protest, and senior officers have pledged to continue using controversial "kettling" techniques to control any violence.
Oxford Street retailers have hired extra security to stop vandalism and protect shoppers, and Tube stations are thought to be ready to close if the protests spiral out of control.
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