Court date for anti-nuclear protesters

One protester is forcibly removed by police

The first of the 76 anti-nuclear protesters arrested at Trident's Faslane base are due to appear in court.

They were taken into custody on Tuesday during a demonstration at the nuclear submarine base on the Clyde, which is home to four Royal Navy Trident submarines.

Three of the 42 men and 34 women were held in custody overnight but only one is expected to appear at Helensburgh District Court.

They should be joining us in preventing the crime that's going on behind these wires

Protest spokesman David McKenzie's message to Strathclyde Police

Hundreds had gathered at Faslane's two main gates on Tuesday with the intention of blocking all routes into the base.

Protest group Trident Ploughshares believes the UK Government is breaching international law.

Spokesman David McKenzie said: "Over the last 100 years, codes have been developed for the humane conduct of warfare, from the St Petersburg convention through the Geneva protocols to the International Court of Justice ruling in 1996.

"They all make it clear that any weapon that cannot distinguish between civilians and the military on the scale that Trident cannot, is immoral, illegal and should be removed immediately."

Protesters hang from scaffolding at the base

Mr McKenzie said he "congratulated" Strathclyde Police for the way they had handled the demonstration, but added: "We have one major gripe with them.

"They shouldn't be arresting us - they should be upholding the law. They should be joining us in preventing the crime that's going on behind these wires."

The demonstrators are camping in woods near Coulport for two weeks and say more action will take place during that time. Some walked from the Aldermaston weapons factory in Berkshire.

Among those who took part in the protest was Harold Best, the veteran CND campaigner and Labour MP for Leeds north-west, and Scots author Alison Kennedy.

MSP's support

The demonstration also won support from the Scottish Green MSP Robin Harper.

He said: "I send my strong support and backing to the Trident Ploughshares, the members of Scottish CND, and the hundreds of green individuals for their non-violent, open and accountable direct action, and their commitment to a nuclear-free future for Scotland.

"While the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to legislate in matters of defence, it can serve as an important forum for the democratic wishes of the people of Scotland."

Campaigners are opposed to Trident

Monks and nuns from the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist order based in Milton Keynes attended the protest.

Further action including blockades and intrusions into the base are likely to follow in the next few days.

In February, more than 150 people - including Scottish Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan and Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas - were arrested as they tried to stop work at the base.

However, the Valentine's Day demonstration, which was backed by Sir Sean Connery, was condemned by unions as a threat to the livelihoods of the 8,000 people who work at the base.

It followed a ruling by a Scottish sheriff last year that the Trident nuclear missile system was illegal under international law and attempts to disarm it were justified.

Protesters acquitted

In a trial at Greenock Sheriff Court in October, Sheriff Margaret Gimblett agreed with defence arguments that the missiles were illegal.

As such, charges of criminal damage could not be upheld against three CND activists - Angela Zelter, 48, Ellen Moxley, 45, and Bodil Ulla Roder, 45.

They were acquitted of causing £80,000 damage to a research lab at Faslane.

The Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd QC, has asked the High Court to rule on whether Sheriff Gimblett was correct.

That court will be able to look at the case, but it does not have the power to overturn the women's acquittal.