Japanese peace activists Monday expressed disappointment and anger as the United States began bombing targets in Afghanistan in retaliation for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

"Objections have been raised even in the U.S. that retaliation does not solve the problem," said 36-year-old Ryuji Yagi, who on Sunday organized a gathering of some 1,500 people to protest the retaliatory strikes and terrorism. "I'm also enraged by the Japanese government, which gave its support to the retaliation."

Protest demonstrations would be held outside the Diet building as well as in Tokyo's Yurakucho district in the afternoon, Yagi said.