Thousands of demonstrators converged on the U.S. capital Saturday, in just one of many anti-war marches planned for cities across North America and Europe.

Young activists, nuns, families mourning the loss of loved ones who fought and died in Iraq, marched past the White House, shouting "Peace now."

Organizers hoped to draw as many as 100,000 people in Washington D.C. for the day of protest and remembrance.

"I think they probably hit that," said Washington Police Chief Charles Ramsey.

The coalition of anti-war groups organizing the day's events say their unifying message is simply: "bring the troops home."

President George Bush did not receive the message first-hand, though, as he spent the day dealing with Hurricane Rita from Colorado and Texas. The president has repeatedly said withdrawing U.S. troops now would hand the nation's enemies a victory.

But that hasn't stopped those gathering in the capital to direct their anger at the president.

"Bush Lied, Thousands Died," one sign read.

Folk singer Joan Baez -- an icon of the 1960s Vietnam War protests -- marched and later sang at the foot of the Washington Monument. She said Iraq has become a mess and that the troops need to come home immediately.

"There is chaos. There's bloodshed. There's carnage," said Baez.

Rallies also took place in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Brussels, Florence, Rome, Paris and Madrid.

Protests in Canada

Canadians took to the streets in several cities as well, from Calgary to Toronto, Vancouver to Halifax.

In Ottawa, about 200 anti-war advocates called for Canada and the U.S. to end their "occupations'' in Iraq, Afghanistan and Haiti.

"We love our troops, bring them home," said Federico Carvajal of Together Against War.

"We don't want to be responsible for those human rights violations that we are currently responsible for.''

In Toronto, several hundred people waved banners and anti-war signs in front of the U.S. Consulate before marching to the Ontario Liberal party offices.

In London, England, meanwhile, thousands of protesters took to the streets calling for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq.

A member of the Stop the War Coalition which organized the march from the Houses of Parliament to Hyde Park says she and others are there to be heard.

"Enough is enough," Lindsey German told The Associated Press. "It is now time, once again, for the British people to step forward into the streets and insist that this time we will not be ignored."

The day of rallies marks the unofficial culmination of California mother Cindy Sheehan, whose 24-year-old son Casey was killed fighting in Iraq last year.

"This war is immoral, it will end," said Sheehan. "The darkness will never overcome the light."

Sheehan became the focus of anti-war sentiment in America last month, when she staged a 26-day demonstration in front of the vacationing president's Texas ranch.