Peace protesters will be present when board members of United Kingdom Trade & Investment arrive for their meeting today, calling on UKTI to end its "disproportionate and unjustified" support for the arms industry.

Christians from a range of backgrounds held a service in London yesterday evening to thank God for a major success in campaigning against the arms trade - the shutting down of the government-backed DESO.

An arms fair taking place in London this week will be run for the last time by its current owner Reed Elsevier, which is putting it up for sale. Campaigners say they believe it may be the beginning of the end for the military exhibition.

Peace and church-related organizations are expressing “delight” at the impending closure of Britain’s prime arms exports promotion organization, following an announcement by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Gordon Brown has said he will shut down the main government overseas arms sales office – at least in its present form. Peace campaigners want this to signal a more basic shift away from the promotion of military exports.