Kurds and their friends continue their protests after the emergence of images and reports proving the Turkish state’s employment of chemical and banned weapons in its war against guerrilla forces in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

The Democratic Kurdistan Community Congress in Europe (KCDK-E) declared 12 November a "national strike day against chemical weapons use" to protest the silence of the Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the European Union (EU), the United Nations, NATO and international powers.

While demonstrations are set to take place in Germany, Northern France, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium today, the main rally is taking place in the German city of Düsseldorf.

Thousands of Kurds from all over Germany are taking part in the protest march which kicked off in two arms following a minute of silence in memory of the martyrs of the Kurdish freedom struggle.

Demonstrators are mainly wearing white protective suits to denounce the employment of chemical weapons and displaying banners with the images of 17 guerrillas who have been killed in the latest chemical attacks by the Turkish army in the guerilla areas in northern Iraq.