Protests against war have been taking place for months

Around 200 pupils skipped lessons and walked to the city centre of Swansea on Wednesday.

South Wales Police allowed the demonstration to proceed but traffic was held up.

In Powys, pupils at one school have stayed away from lessons to register their disapproval, and a series of further protests are also scheduled to happen on the day that war breaks out.

Downing Street is currently urging the country to rally behind UK troops after Tony Blair won the backing of MPs for war despite a major backbench revolt.

Despite this, some pupils at Gwernyfed High school near Hay-on-Wye in Powys, boycotted classes, despite a warning from their headmaster that they would be regarded as truants.

Protest: Pupil Tom Gatehouse opposes war in Iraq

"It's hard for young people to make their voices heard because we're too young to vote," said pupil Tom Gatehouse.

However, other pupils decided to express their feelings in a school debate that has been organised - their views will then be forwarded to the prime minister.

But fellow student Aidan Brennan disagreed with the boycott action.

"I feel the action taken at school is unnecessary - I really don't think that children should be walking out of school," he said.

"I believe that Tony Blair and George Bush are just in what they are doing," he added.

International community

Meanwhile in south Wales, international students at Atlantic college in the Vale of Glamorgan, planned an event at the Aneurin Bevan statue in Cardiff.

Over 50 students from countries including Pakistan, Montenegro, Sudan, USA, Palestine, Canada, Argentina and Spain were expected to lie down in the street in their stance against war.

He (Chris Ruane) has consented to a war that will cause great suffering to innocent civilians in Iraq Clwyd coast anti-war network spokesperson

"Even at this late stage we must show that the international community does not back this invasion," said one of the organisers, 17-year-old Liam Goodacre from Scotland.

"It is time for the government to start representing the views of their population," he added.

In north Wales, a vigil against military action was also due to be held outside the Anne Frank exhibition at Rhyl town hall.

On Tuesday, local MP Chris Ruane voted with the government for war, a decision that has angered some local people.

"We are seriously disappointed that Chris Ruane MP voted for war," said a spokesperson for the Clwyd coast anti-war network.

"He has now consented to a war that will cause great suffering to innocent civilians in Iraq," the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, two churches in Neath - St Thomas and St David's - announced they would be open on Friday so people can pray for peace and for the armed forces.