The fast and vigil will be held 24 hours a day, seven days a week for 16 weeks and culminate with a massive march and rally on International Women's Day on March 8.

The vigil is organized by a new coalition called Women United For Peace, which has brought together large and small groups in the struggle against the U.S. government's rush to war with Iraq.

Women in the coalition say they cannot sit by passively as the administration of President Bush rushes into a war with Iraq that will kill innocent people and drain valuable resources away from much-needed social programs that help women and children.

The coalition is calling on women from the United States and other countries to raise their voices for peace and take action to stop war. The following is an audio report from the start of the fast and vigil.