BRITAIN: Opposition protests to a possible war in Iraq sparked more arrests in Britain yesterday after further demonstrations against conflict took place across the country.
At least eight people were arrested during a Greenpeace protest outside the headquarters of the Exxon Mobil oil giant in Leatherhead, Surrey, police said. Esso said a minimum of 50 petrol stations around the country were also forced to close after activists sabotaged pumps.
Greenpeace alleges that Esso and its parent company, the Exxon Mobil Corporation, support "war and environmental crimes". The company rejected the Greenpeace claims, adding it deplored any action which threatened the safety of staff.
Anti-war campaigners also staged a "die in" protest outside the Vickers tank factory in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Police were questioning 13 people arrested after breaking into an air base during a demonstration yesterday which began at Fairford, Gloucestershire.
After sabotaging Esso stations across England and Wales, Greenpeace protesters congregated at eight stations, from Southampton to Leeds, and chained themselves together as they waited for police to arrest them.
Around 300 activists took part in the protests.
Greenpeace campaigner, Ms Anita Goldsmith, said: "This looming war is a barely disguised attempt by George Bush to get his hands on Iraqi oil and no company has done more to fuel the crisis than his paymasters at Esso.
"They have spent millions keeping the US hooked on oil, bank-rolling pro-war lobby groups and fighting international action on climate change.
Esso spokesman, Mr David Eglinton, said people had "every right to express their views" but that it was "ludicrous to suggest that Exxon Mobil is in any way encouraging a potential war in Iraq".
Anti-war campaigners outside the Vickers factory wore white boiler suits spattered with red dye with white face masks as they lay down at the firm's entrance.
Protesters - watched by police officers - then confronted employees leaving the site at the end of their shifts with leaflets and posters saying "No war on Iraq".
Campaigners said they were holding the protest ahead of the journey of 50 Vickers' tank engineers to Kuwait on Thursday to adapt British Challenger tanks for any proposed invasion of Iraq.