Anti-war protesters rally in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, March 16 (UPI) -- Thousands united for anti-war protests in Los Angeles as the five-year mark for the invasion of Iraq by U.S. troops approached.

The number of demonstrations planned for upcoming days across the country is increased as the war's fifth anniversary Thursday draws near, Voice of America reported Sunday.

Los Angeles Council on American-Islamic Relations member, Sharaf Mowjood, said the ongoing existence of U.S. soldiers in Iraq is making the country's situation worse and drawing focus away from United States issues, such as the reconstruction of the Hurricane Katrina-damaged city, New Orleans.

"We need to pull out immediately," Mowjood said. "So it's in a situation where the best viable option is to pull out because you have a lot of these internal problems you have to deal with, healthcare, sub-prime mortgage crisis, Katrina, all that."

Demonstrations reportedly are set for March 19, in San Francisco, Chicago and Washington.