Japanese whaling fleet sets sail

A Japanese fleet has set sail for Antarctica with the aim of catching more than four-hundred minke whales by next April.

Despite strong international criticism, Japan maintains it is just involved in scientific research on managing whale populations, and so doesn't breach the international moratorium on the commercial exploitation of endangered species.

It says the whale meat -- considered a delicacy in Japan -- is sold off to help pay for the research.

The United States is considering possible sanctions against Japan on the issue; on Thursday, President Clinton told the Japanese prime minister, Yoshiro Mori, that he hoped whaling wouldn't hurt relations between the two countries.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service