18 Dec 2007

Organisers for Samoa protest march say up to ten thousand people taking part

11:23 am on 18 December 2007

Organisers of a protest march in Samoa against swopping to drive on the other side of the road estimate up to ten thousand people are taking part.

The group has been marching from the centre of town to the parliamentary debating chamber outside the main commercial area of Apia.

Our correspondent in Apia, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, has been following the march and says it could be one of the largest in Samoa's history.

He says the crowd is dressed mainly in white:

"They are all wearing white and they've been asked by the leader of the march to wear white because it shows the support against the government proposed road traffic bill where we are going to import right hand drive vehicles using the left hand side of the road."

The organisers have presented a petition of over thirty thousand signatures to parliament asking for the bill to be dropped.

More than 100 police officers monitored the march.