UK peace campaigner Brian Haw dies aged 62

Brian Haw dies after long battle against lung cancer

Brian Haw became a well known figure in the UK after he set up camp in Parliament Square, London. He set up camp on June 2, 2001 as a protest against UK and US foreign policy. As the BBC reported, it was not moved from the grassy area until March 2011, when a High Court ruling obtained by London's mayor forced him to move his camp on to the pavement.

Brian has been fighting a long battle with lung cancer. According to the Guardian, the 62-year-old died in his sleep on Saturday, June 18, 2001 in Germany, where he had been receiving treatment.

His family posted a statement on his website saying,  "It is with deepest regret that I inform you that our father, Brian, passed away this morning. As you know he was battling lung cancer, and was having treatment in Germany. He left us in his sleep and in no pain, after a long, hard fight."

Mr Haw's Parliament Square protests were 24/7 round-the-clock. Initially the protest was centred on economic sanctions and British and US bombing raids on Iraq. After the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington DC his protest was widened. This was to include the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

His fellow campaigners said today, June 19, 2011, that UK authorities "should forever be ashamed of their disgraceful behaviour towards Brian. Brian showed great determination and courage during the many long hard years he led his peace campaign in Parliament Square, during which it is well documented that he was relentlessly persecuted by the authorities which eventually took its toll on his health."

"Brian showed the same courage and determination in his battle with cancer. He was keenly aware of and deeply concerned that so many civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine did not have access to the same treatments that were made available to him. Parliament, the police, and courts etc, should forever be ashamed of their disgraceful behaviour towards Brian."

The have vowed to continue his peace campaign work. However, the camp is facing legal action by Westminster council which could mean that the camp is closed permanently.