Expansionary Institute

Greenpeacers Board British Submarine,

Greenpeacers Board British Submarine

.c The Associated Press

GIBRALTAR (AP) - Greenpeace activists eluded Spanish police and British troops and climbed onto the deck of a stricken nuclear-powered submarine Tuesday to protest its presence in Gibraltar.

Greenpeace said the eight environmental activists were detained after they boarded the British submarine and unfurled protest banners.

Activists from Spain, Germany, Austria and Italy reached the submarine Tireless in four rubber dinghies, said Xabier Pastor, director of Greenpeace Spain.

The submarine is in Gibraltar for repairs, and its presence has provoked concern and anger among Spaniards living nearby.

It has also added an irritant to the sour relations between London and Madrid over the British colony on Spain's southern tip.

The Tireless docked in Gibraltar nine months ago after a crack was found in its cooling system. Britain later said the crack may stem from a design flaw and recalled 12 similar submarines for checks.

Assurances from both countries have done little to convince many of the 250,000 people who live near Gibraltar that there is no danger of a radiation leak.

The repairs are scheduled to start next week, and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has said he hopes the submarine will be removed by April.

Police said the activists were detained for holding an unauthorized protest. They provided no other details about the incident.

AP-NY-01-16-01 0829EST

Tue Jan 16