More than 100 Greenpeace protesters occupied part of a US-operated radar station in north Yorkshire yesterday in a demonstration over the "Son of Star Wars" US missile defence system.
Greenpeace said it wanted to draw attention to the proposed use of the Menwith Hill base as part of President Bush's "Son of Star Wars" defence programme and it called on the British Government to withhold its support for the project.
The demonstrators walked onto the site, or climbed over fences, at about 5 a.m. yesterday and due to their number encountered little resistance. About 15 people were able to chain themselves or climb on to an 80 ft water tower while others climbed on to the roof of another building. Greenpeace said the protesters walked on to the site playing the theme tune to the television series, Mission: Impossible.
The operation to remove about the protesters began at about 5 p.m. when military police with bolt cutters climbed the water tower.
Greenpeace's executive director, Mr Stephen Tindale, said the defence programme was a "disaster" and he called on the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, to refuse any US request to include Menwith Hill or Fylingdales military base in North Yorkshire in their plans.
Many people living close to the base are concerned that Menwith Hill could become a terrorist target if it forms part of President Bush's defence plans. "But Bush can't install the programme without Tony Blair's approval," said Mr Tindale. "We urge Mr Blair not to kow-tow to Bush on such a crucial issue. He must say no to UK involvement."
During the demonstration Greenpeace claimed 20 protesters had climbed on top of the base's radar building, 15 were on top of the water tower and another 15 were inside the grounds of Menwith Hill.
Ms Eleanor Gordon, from Manchester, joined a group of protesters who walked into the base. She insisted security officials reacted calmly: "About 30 of us went in through the main gates. There were only one or two security guards on duty at the time and they were just overwhelmed.
"The protest may seem drastic but the effects of the Star Wars programme could be so devastating for the world that only direct action will do."
The Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Mr Phil Willis, said Greenpeace's demonstration was a direct result of the government's failure to clarify the position of US bases in Britain in the post-Cold War period.
He said: "Liberal Democrats are demanding a full statement from the Prime Minister about the use of Britain's bases within America's missile defence system, and this should lead to a full debate in the House of Commons."