Protestors gather during UN session for environment issues

But unlike Zhao, who was camera shy, Sri Lankan Nanda Ranasingha was more photogenic. The president of Sri Lanka Freedom Party US branch led a small group shouting slogans and waving banners -- not against -- but for their government.

"My country was plagued by a civil war for 30 years, I repeat, 30 years. But our current leader solved the problem in less than three years," he said, referring to the wiping out of Tamil Tiger guerillas by government forces.

He urged the international community to support the Sri Lanka government and its people to build lasting peace.

Sharing his hope for peace was Rabbi Chaim Mermelstein, a member of a Jewish group opposing Zionism.

He said he wants peaceful coexistence with Palestinians.

"It is Almighty's will that people don't kill each other. To achieve that, we would rather not have a state of our own," he said.

Members of a Jewish group rally outside the UN headquarters (Tuesday) calling for peace in the Mideast.[Huang Xiangyang/China Daily]

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