Up to 1,000 children have marched through central London in support of young people living in the Palestinian territories, campaigners say.

The route wound from Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square and at Downing Street, five children handed a letter to the prime minister calling for support.

Between 900 to 1,000 children from many different religious and ethnic backgrounds took part in the march on Saturday afternoon, campaigners estimated.

More than 200 children have been killed and 7,000 injured since the beginning of the Palestinian uprising more than 18 months ago.

We want to get the children involved and participating

Masoud Shadjareh

Masoud Shadjareh, spokesman for the Justice for Palestine Committee, which organised the march, said the children on the march were well-behaved.

"We wanted to show wide-ranging support for the children of Palestine. I think we have done that," he said.

"We have launched a letter writing competition to write letters to Tony Blair.

"We want to get the children involved and participating."

Sanction demand

Last Saturday, tens of thousands of people joined a rally in London demanding an end to Israel's military actions in the West Bank.

Organisers estimated 50,000 people marched through the centre of the capital, calling for sanctions to be imposed on Ariel Sharon's government.

In the latest in a series of demonstrations over the continuing Middle East conflict, activists demanded an end to what they see as an aggressive occupation by Israel.

A mix of students, trade unionists and seasoned campaigners heard calls for war crimes charges to be brought against those who had organised military actions in the Jenin refugee camp.

As well as expressing support for refugees and those who had lost their homes, marchers called for sanctions to be put in place until Israel agreed to a complete withdrawal from Palestinian territory.