Sydney:
Environmental activists scaled the iconic Sydney Opera House on Tuesday to unfurl a banner urging world leaders to strike a treaty in Copenhagen to combat climate change.
Police took five people into custody after bringing them down from the building after about two hours, New South Wales state police Detective Inspector Paul McDonald said.
The three women and two men from Greenpeace could face stiff fines if they are charged with trespassing or causing damage to the building.
"We're fairly angry and upset at the diversion from our normal activities to address these issues. This time of year is particularly busy for us," McDonald told Australian television.
Television footage showed several people with climbing harnesses and helmets clambering over one of the opera house's distinctive white, sail-shaped roof structures, hanging a banner that read: "Stop The Politics, Climate Treaty Now." Authorities quickly removed the sign.
More than 100 world leaders are gathering in Copenhagen this week to try to hammer out a plan to fight global warming, but negotiations have bogged down in arguments about how much different countries should cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
"Today, Greenpeace activists with only four days to (the end of) Copenhagen have sent a strong message to Kevin Rudd and other world leaders that we need a fair, ambitious, legally binding treaty to come out of Copenhagen to prevent dangerous climate change," Linda Selvey, Greenpeace's Australia Pacific chief executive told Australian television.
Police took five people into custody after bringing them down from the building after about two hours, New South Wales state police Detective Inspector Paul McDonald said.
The three women and two men from Greenpeace could face stiff fines if they are charged with trespassing or causing damage to the building.
"We're fairly angry and upset at the diversion from our normal activities to address these issues. This time of year is particularly busy for us," McDonald told Australian television.
Television footage showed several people with climbing harnesses and helmets clambering over one of the opera house's distinctive white, sail-shaped roof structures, hanging a banner that read: "Stop The Politics, Climate Treaty Now." Authorities quickly removed the sign.
More than 100 world leaders are gathering in Copenhagen this week to try to hammer out a plan to fight global warming, but negotiations have bogged down in arguments about how much different countries should cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
"Today, Greenpeace activists with only four days to (the end of) Copenhagen have sent a strong message to Kevin Rudd and other world leaders that we need a fair, ambitious, legally binding treaty to come out of Copenhagen to prevent dangerous climate change," Linda Selvey, Greenpeace's Australia Pacific chief executive told Australian television.
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