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ROME (AP) \u2014 Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in seven Italian cities on Saturday calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Middle East<\/a>, Ukraine<\/a> and all global conflicts.<\/p>\n Peaceful rallies were held in Rome, Turin, Milan, Florence, Bari, Palermo and Cagliari, with the support of hundreds of associations committed to peace, disarmament and human rights.<\/p>\n The marches came in response to escalating violence in the Middle East and growing conflicts worldwide and denounced the diminished role of the United Nations on the global scene.<\/p>\n In Rome, a few thousand demonstrators marched waving a giant rainbow flag in front of the Colosseum and a banner with the slogan: \u201cLet\u2019s stop wars. The time for peace is now!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe war in Ukraine has been going on for years now and what was the result? Nothing. \u2026 There are only a lot of Ukrainian and Russian people who died, many soldiers and many children,\u201d said Daniela Ferraci, a demonstrator in the Italian capital. \u201cThe same is happening in Gaza, in Israel, in Lebanon.”<\/p>\n Giulio Marcon, one of the organizers of the Rome rally, said \u201cwars are never resolving problems.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWar brings more war, weapons bring more weapons. We must choose the path of negotiation, cease-fire and diplomacy. This is the message from this square,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Maurizio Landini, leader of Italy’s CGIL trade union, called for the role of international diplomacy to be reaffirmed.<\/p>\n \u201cOur strongest request is a ceasefire to let governments open a real peace conference, because the new world\u2019s balance can\u2019t be decided by wars,\u201d he said on stage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n