1.
GV ZOOM TO Greenpeace vessel, the Rainbow Warrior. (2 SHOTS)
0.16

2.
SV The Vesla Mari whaling boat in harbour.
0.22

3.
SV Police on deck of Velsa Mari talking to Greenpeace leader ZOOM IN TO man handcuffed to deck railing.
0.32

4.
CU Another demonstrator chained to railing.
0.38

5.
CU Woman demonstrator chained to rail. (2 SHOTS)
0.48

6.
GV PAN UP Mast of ship TO demonstrator waving banner.
0.56

7.
SV Police with boltcutters cutting chains.
1.02

8.
CU Woman demonstrator carried by police form deck to waiting police van. (2 SHOTS)
1.20

9.
GV Another demonstrator carried ashore.
1.26

10.
SV Police van leaving jetty with demonstrators.
1.34

11.
LV Demonstrators up mast as ship begins to pull out from harbour. (2 SHOTS)
1.49



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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The northwest Norwegian town of Aalesund was the scene of an unsuccessful bid by conservationist from several countries to sabotage the start of a seal hunt. Before the protest was over, police had arrested demonstrators from Britain, France the Netherlands and Switzerland.

SYNOPSIS: The conservationists sailed into Aalesund Harbour on the Greenpeace vessel, the Rainbow Warrior, and dropped anchor. A number of conservationists then went aboard the Norwegian sealing vessel the Velsa Mari, some chaining and handcuffing themselves to the deck railings. They were protesting against Canada's decision not to heed a Greenpeace call for a two year moratorium on seal hunting. The Vesla Mari was about to leave for cull of harp and hooded seals off Newfoundland.

According to the Greenpeace group in London, the purpose of their protest was to draw attention to the seal hunting taking place in Newfoundland and around the island of Jan Mayen in the North West Atlantic.

One woman was among those who attached themselves to the ship's railing. Meanwhile, others had scaled the mast and shackled themselves to the crowsnest after attaching a banner to the mast which read "Let the sea live".

But it wasn't long before the police arrived. Having failed to persuade the demonstrators to leave of their own accord, they got to work with boltcutters on the chains and handcuffs. Soon the demonstrators were being carried ashore under arrest and taken away in a police van. In all, nine of the protestors were arrested.

However, the police were unable to dislodge the demonstrators in the crowsnest and the Velsa Mari sailed off for an unknown destination with four of them still aboard. The Norwegian News Agency reported that they had unlocked their shackles and climbed down to the deck because of the extreme cold.