An anti-war group in Kochi on Monday called for a boycott of products of US soft drink majors -- Coca-Cola and Pepsi and the multinational giant Hindustan Lever Ltd -- in the state from next month to protest the superpower-led military action in Iraq.

The decision was taken at the state Anti-War Samithy's general council, which met on Monday and chalked out an eight-point programme to ensure that products of Coca-Cola, Pepsi and HLL were boycotted from April.

All the shopkeepers have been asked not to stock the products of the three companies from April 1. Anti-war squads have been formed to visit shops to ensure that the products were not being stocked, a statement of the Samithy said.

All cities in the state would hav anti-war corners, where various art forms would be used to highlight the ravages of war and its impact on human life.

On April 13, in all districts, a children's anti-war painting competition would be held. Anti-war rallies would be taken out in all panchayats and municipalities from April 20.

The meeting was inaugurated by CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. Former Supreme Court Judge V R Krishna Iyer, who is the chairman of the Samithy, and Sanskrit University Vice Chancellor Dr K N Panicker were among those who participated.