A minute's silence. Almost

Crowds observe the minute's
silence in central Edinburgh.
Photograph: Gabrielle Procter
Pierced only by the sound of police helicopters, anti-poverty campaigners have succeeded in getting the crowd at the Edinburgh rally to be very noisy. Then very quiet. And then very noisy again.

After a practice silence (marred only by samba bands) the clock ticked down on big screens to 3pm with chants to cancel third world debt and make trade fair. At three, the word "SILENCE" flashed on the big screens.