As the Iraq conflict enters its fifth year, Christians joined thousands in an anti-war march in Washington DC.

A Christian anti-war worship service drew thousands of peace supporters to the Washington National Cathedral on Friday night before the march on Saturday from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the Pentagon.

The vigil was followed by a march later on Friday night through snow to the White House. One protestor who joined in the march, John Pattison, 29, told the Associated Press: "A lot of the rhetoric that we hear coming from Christians has been dominated by the religious right and has been strong advocacy for the war.

"That's just not the way I read my Gospel," he said.

The demonstration was organised by anti-war group Christian Peace Witness for Iraq.

"Too many people have died and it doesn't solve anything," Ann O'Grady told AP. She drove through snow with her husband, Tom, and two children, 13 and 10, from Athens, Ohio, to take part in the demonstration.

"I feel bad carrying out my daily activities while people are suffering, Americans and Iraqis."

The four-year anniversary of the Iraq invasion will fall on Tuesday.