Thousands of citizens of the Horn of Africa staged a mass demonstration in Downing Street, London, protesting against United Kingdom and the United States for supporting the Ethiopian government.

As they demonstrate, the protesters hoisted hundreds of flags of Eritrea, Somalia, Ogaden and Oromo. They also waved so many placards, calling for unity against what they referred to as the Ethiopia government-led conflict, which saw the burning down of villages, raping of women and children in the Ogaden region.

They also asked Ethiopian forces to quit the Eritrean territory, release Oromo prisoners and withdraw it troops from Somalia.

One of the placards was directed to the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and President George Bush, informing them that the "Horn of Africa is united against the barbaric regime of Ethiopia."

The peaceful rally, dubbed the Horn of Africa United for Peace and Stability, passed off peacefully, with its leaders handing over a petition to Gordon Brown as well as had audience with officials of the Foreign Office desk.

British officials expressed concerned about the depletion of humanitarian situation in Ogaden and promised to engage the Ethiopian government to allow food aid to the region.

One of the Ogaden leaders, Kowsar Bedel, said they demanded the British government to urgently look into the plight of Ogaden and stop dishing out aid to the Ethiopian government because this enables it to destabilize the already polarised region.

In Pictures (powered by Thedros G/Amlak - UK)

---