Venezuela protests against US policies
Venezuela's government and civil society Tuesday began a week of conferences and demonstrations protesting the U.S.-led war in Iraq and the U.S. hostility towards other nations, official sources said.

The events took place within the framework of International Women's Day, which falls on Wednesday.

Singer-songwriter Elena Gil will take part in an event on Wednesday at the Caracas City Theatre which will show a video of women's struggle against the U.S. police.

On Thursday, women will lead a march against the Iraq war outside the U.S. embassy, where they will deliver a petition demanding the withdrawal of U.S. soldiers from Iraq.

Venezuela's legislative committee member Gabriela Ramirez said that the Iraq war only creates profits for the U.S. military industry.

Maripili Hernandez, vice minister for North America, said Venezuela supports U.S. citizens that are forced to go to Iraq because of nationalist blackmail, adding that the children of U.S. citizens were being sacrificed for the economic interests of Washington.

On Thursday, German Mudarin, a human rights activist, and Hernandez, will attend a conference on the U.S. human rights situation.

And on Friday, there will be a conference on the right to information, liberty of expression and the situation of journalists in the United States. On Saturday, there will be a meeting on the situation of Latin American immigrants in the United States, according to the sources.