British, Danish and American protesters were among a group of activists occupying three areas in the Menwith Hill base in northern England, campaign group Greenpeace said.

Greenpeace protestors with makeshift rockets and flags protest on the water tower at Menwith Hill RAF base near Harrogate July 3, 2001. The demonstraters are protesting against the proposed U.S. missile defence system. REUTERS/Ian Hodgson

President Bush's proposed shield system is intended to protect the United States and its allies from long range missile attack.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he has taken no decision on whether to back the project but his spokesman has signaled broad support.

Many Europeans are skeptical about the proposed missile shield's capability after some test failures. They are also concerned that the United States should not tear up key arms control treaties with Russia that limit such defenses.

Greenpeace said 50 activists, some carrying flags with the message ``Star Wars Starts Wars'' and others dressed as missiles, had gone in through the base's front gate. Others had scaled the razor wire perimeter fence.

Greenpeace member Helen Wallace said: ``I am chained to a water tower inside the site.

``A number of people have been arrested. We are going to stay here to make our point that Menwith Hill is part of Bush's dangerous Star Wars plan and we want Tony Blair to stop that,'' she told BBC radio.

A Ministry of Defense spokeswoman said protesters were on a water tower and on the roof of the control room after a group of 100 had rushed the main gate and scaled the fence.

``There have been a number of arrests,'' she added.

Greenpeace said that if Britain gives the go-ahead, Menwith Hill will be used as a ground relay station to transmit information on missile location and trajectory back to the U.S. to help with targeting for interceptor missiles.

Copyright © 2001 Reuters Limited

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