A handful of protesters marked the fourth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war on Monday with a demonstration in downtown Sacramento.

Many people dressed in black lay flat on the sidewalk as part of a "die-in" outside of the federal courthouse at the intersection of Fifth and I streets.

Democrats are bringing up this week in the House a war spending bill that would effectively require the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by the fall of 2008, on top of providing funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for the year.

But several of those present at the Sacramento protest were critical of the plan, adding that they would like to see troops withdrawn sooner.

A lone counterprotester also showed up, stating that he supports troop deployments in Iraq and that any withdrawal now would be an admission of defeat.

Elsewhere, about two dozen people in San Francisco staged a protest in front of the McKesson building, where Sen. Dianne Feinstein has an office.

Then they moved to the middle of Market Street covered in white sheets and flowers and blocking traffic in both directions.

There are also several candlelight vigils planned for Monday evening, including one in front of the memorial crosses set up on a hillside in Lafayette.