Thousands of people from around the world are in Kenya Saturday for the start of the World Social Forum, an annual conference to protest the effects of global capitalism.
The event began with a march through the streets of Kibera, a crowded slum in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi that is home to more than 700,000 people. Demonstrators carried signs calling President Bush "the world's number one terrorist," and demanding positive change in the world.
The six-day forum will focus on the debt burden of poor countries, combating poverty, resolving conflict and what organizers say is unfair trade.
Among the dignitaries taking part this year's forum are Nobel Peace laureate Wangari Maathai of Kenya and former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda.
The World Social Forum was conceived in 2001 as a counterpoint to the annual World Economic Forum of political and business leaders in Davos, Switzerland. This year's event is the first to be held in Africa.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
