Tens of thousands of people have staged anti-war rallies in cities across the US calling for the impeachment of Bush for war crimes.

Demonstrators marked the fifth anniversary of the US Senate's vote authorizing the invasion of Iraq in a dozen US cities including Boston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New Jersey, Ohio, Orlando, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City and Seattle.

However, the biggest number of demonstrators, who included relatives of US soldiers in Iraq, gathered in New York, Chicago and San Francisco.

They criticized the Bush administration for spending billions of dollars for the war in Iraq, urging the Congress to cut off funding for the war and use the money for education, social housing and feeding the hungry.

Heavy rains did not stop rallies in New York, where thousands of people expressed disgust with Bush, voiced support for Palestinians, and opposed the US naval prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Demonstrators also condemned Bush's war rhetoric against Iran.

A two-minute silence was held in commemoration of the American soldiers and the Iraqi citizens who died since the US invasion on Iraq in 2003.

AKM/BGH