Sept. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Tens of thousands of anti-war protesters streamed through Washington's streets and past the White House, demanding the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Organizers of the rally, the keynote event of three days of activism in Washington, predicted it would be the largest demonstration yet against the U.S. war in Iraq. Participants said the demonstration marks the turning point in popular opposition to the war. Much of the criticism was leveled directly at President George W. Bush, with marchers calling him a liar and a profiteer and blaming his mismanagement for the devastation in New Orleans that followed Hurricane Katrina.

``Bush has done a good job of hiding the truth,'' said Terry Haugen, a 57-year-old from Melbourne, Florida and mother of a former Marine. ``We're awakening now. This momentum has started and will not stop.''

The protests come as public support for the war continues to slide. Sixty-seven percent of those questioned in a USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll conducted Sept. 16-18 said they disapprove of Bush's handling of the war, the most since it began.

Withdrawing from Iraq now ``would make the world more dangerous,'' Bush said at the Pentagon on Sept. 22. ``The only way the terrorists can win is if we lose our nerve and abandon the mission. That's not going to happen on my watch. We will do our duty.''

Bush Not There

Bush is meeting with hurricane response coordinators in Texas today and won't be in Washington during the protest. An official estimate of the size of today's crowd wasn't immediately available.

In addition to the anti-war sentiments, the protest was joined by critics of the World Bank, which is holding its annual meeting with finance ministers from around the world this weekend. World Bank protesters held their own rally this morning and then marched to the main demonstration, passing along the barricades blocking off the bank's buildings.

The protesters added a last-minute demand of Bush: Justice for hurricane victims.

The marchers will regroup this afternoon by the Washington Monument, where a planned nine-hour concert will be headlined by Cindy Sheehan, the California woman whose son was killed in Iraq and who drew global attention in August when she camped out near Bush's Texas ranch, demanding a meeting.

Performers will include musicians Joan Baez, Steve Earle and Sweet Honey in the Rock.

Event Organizers

The Answer Coalition, a Washington-based umbrella organization of various peace and social-justice groups, organized the event along with New York-based United for Peace & Justice, a coalition of 1,300 groups opposed to ``our government's policy of permanent warfare and empire building.''

Even if organizers reach their estimate of more than 100,000 protesters, the rally will fall short of several staged during the Vietnam War. One in November 1969 drew 600,000, the most ever for a single rally in Washington, according to the U.S. Park Police.

The U.S. Park Police said it won't provide an official estimate of the crowd size today, leaving the organizers to offer their own estimate.

More than 500 of those taking to the streets this weekend will stay in Washington until Monday to lobby their lawmakers. More than 70 senators and 200 House members or their staffs will hear constituents demand that Congress stop the war, organizers said. Others are planning to risk arrest by performing acts of civil disobedience at the White House.

Still, not everyone out on the streets today supported the call for a troop withdrawal. Suzanne and Ralph Tarica, retirees from nearby Bethesda, Maryland, said they are veterans of past marches, and they came downtown for this event today with their trail mix and anti-Bush stickers. Asked if they thought the troops should be pulled out of Iraq, Suzanne said, ``I do.'' Ralph was more circumspect: ``I'm not sure about that.''

Meanwhile, a group of clerics from outside of Rochester, New York, kept up a running, amplified counter-protest. ``George Bush is not the problem in this nation, sin is the problem,'' said Bruce, who declined to provide his last name.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mark Drajem in Washington at Mdrajem@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: September 24, 2005 15:45 EDT