In Seattle, five groups have formed a coalition called the Emergency Response Network -- the Church Council of Greater Seattle, Not In Our Name, Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War, No War Against Iraq Coalition and the Green Party.

On the first day of war, these groups plan to gather at 5 p.m. in front of the Federal Building in downtown Seattle for a protest march. The next day they plan another march and rally, plus the start of a seven-day vigil.

One organizer, Thomas Barnard, says the planning will provide a focus for peaceful protests. Otherwise, he said, war opponents might have no option but "to go down there and try to get something going on the fly."

Activists in more than a dozen other cities have similar plans.