CHANTS of “don’t bomb Syria” echoed around central Oxford on Saturday when campaigners took to the streets to protest against launching further air strikes on the war-torn country.

More than 100 people brandishing flags, placards and flyers braved the rain and icy wind in Bonn Square to show their solidarity with the people of Syria.

Placards reading “stop the war”, “peace” and “make tea not war” were held aloft while rainbow peace flags fluttered in the wind.

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The rally – organised by the Oxford Branch of the Stop the War Coalition – was to protest against prime minister David Cameron’s calls to launch further air strikes in Syria against Islamic State (IS).

But Spanish and Arabic Student Carolina Toso, who attended with friend Holly Dempster-Edwards, said that dialogue not war was the way forward.