A series of demonstrations are to be held across the UK calling for an end to the siege of Gaza.

MANCHESTER: Action Palestine has booked a coach to go from Manchester to the national demo in London this Saturday. Tickets cost £10, although if you can afford to pay slightly more that would be great as the tickets don't cover the price of hiring the coach.

Organisers would prefer if you could pay for your ticket before saturday, find Nasreen or Josh at the vigil in Picadilly gardens tomorrow 5-6pm.

The coach will be leaving from the students union on oxford road (M13 9PR) at 7.15am, and returning around 10pm.

If you would like a seat, please get in touch as soon as possible as places are very limited by calling 07599832052.

FRIDAY 2ND JANUARY.

Birmingham Public Gaza Vigil - All Welcome.

Location: Outside Waterstones, Bullring Birmingham.

Vigil: Please bring black flags, Palestinian flags and candles.

Time: 5pm-6pm (Speakers from 5.30pm).

Speakers: Hanna Khamis, Free Gaza, M. Hassassian (or his deputy), Clare Short MP, Cllr Salma Yaqoob, John Hemming MP, Nicola Jones, Lynne Jones, Mohammed Balousha, JJFP, IAW.

Organisers and stewards: Meet at 4pm Friday at BHS store (New Street); be at venue by 4.30pm.

Supported by West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign, MPSC, BRTI, MP and Stop the War Coalition.

SATURDAY 3rd JANUARY.

Event: National Demonstration.

Hands Off Gaza - Stop the Bombing - Free Palestine Location: Embankment, London WC2.

Called by Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, British Muslim Initiative, CND and many other organisations.

Speakers include Salma Yaqoob, Jeremy Vorbyn, George Galloway, Tony Benn and more.

Birmingham coaches: leave 8.30am - Carrs Lane Church, Carrs Lane, (opposite Moore St station).

Tickets: £8 (Unemployed/students), £12 (Employed) For tickets, call Nick on 07828013091 or Naeem Malik on 07721427690 10 MAB Coaches, Departing from Birmingham Central Mosque (Highgate, B12), 8.30am.

Tickets: £5 each.

Contacts: 07870948503 | 0776691344.

MONDAY 5th JANUARY.

Event: Birmingham Stop the War Coalition Emergency Public Meeting: Stop the Bombing of Gaza - Justice for the Palestinians.

Venue: Committee Rooms 3 & 4, Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham | Time: 6.30pm (tbc).

Speakers: Respect Cllr Salma Yaqoob, Cllr Ayoub Khan (Lib Dem), Cllr Tahir Ali (Lab), John Rose (Jewish anti-Zionist author) and others from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and the Birmingham Ramallah Twinning Committee.