Six Greenpeace activists landed at a jetty at South Africa's only nuclear reactor and climbed onto the roof of the plant to protest over nuclear power in the country, a spokeswoman said.

350 (AP Photo/Christian Erick)

The activists -- two from the Netherlands, one Australian, one Lebanese, one Mexican and one Argentinian -- unfurled two huge yellow banners, saying: "Nukes out of Africa."

Greenpeace spokeswoman Sarah Holden told AFP Saturday the activists arrived by inflatable boat at around 7:30 am (0530 GMT) at the Koeberg nuclear plant, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Cape Town.

"They are still on the roof and will stay there as long as they can and it is safe to do so," Holden said from outside the reactor.

Holden said Koeberg was the only nuclear power plant in the country, and Greenpeace wanted it to be the last.

The activists wanted to draw the public's attention to the dangers of nuclear power -- which she described as "madness" -- and to discourage the expansion of South Africa's nuclear energy program, she added.

Nuclear power and fossil fuel in Africa formed a major part of Greenpeace's agenda for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg which starts Monday.

"We call on the South African government, who is hosting this conference, to be the leader in the renewable energy revolution," Greenpeace spokesman Mike Townsley told AFP.

He said police have arrived at the reactor in vans and armored cars, while a police helicopter was buzzing two inflatables in the bay close to the reactor.

Police declined to comment when contacted by AFP.

Copyright 2002 AFP

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