Greenpeace protest reaches courts

The Rainbow Warrior was stormed on Saturday

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is taking legal action to stop Greenpeace anti-war protesters blockading Marchwood military port in Hampshire.

Greenpeace's flagship Rainbow Warrior arrived in Southampton Water a week ago to block the port and stop war materials being sent to the Gulf.

Greenpeace protesters also boarded military supply vessels.

On Saturday MoD and Hampshire police officers stormed Rainbow Warrier and towed it away.

Anchor chain

Following that action, the MoD will ask the High Court on Monday to stop Greenpeace mounting another blockade.

Activists will argue police had no legal right to board the ship and force it away from military supply vessels.

On Friday, the government was granted a High Court injunction banning anti-war protesters from boarding military ships.

But the order did not ban the Rainbow Warrior from the area.

Greenpeace said later police had severed the anchor chain of the Rainbow Warrior and were towing it away.