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Puerto Rico seeks to stop U.S. Navy bombing exercises

Protestors carry a picture of David Sanes, who was killed in a 1999 Navy bombing accident, during a protest march last week, in Vieques, Puerto Rico.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The governor of Puerto Rico will seek a temporary restraining order Wednesday to block the United States from conducting bombing exercises at its Vieques Island range.

A 21-page lawsuit was filed earlier this week in U.S. District Court seeking to block use of the bombing range, and a hearing was set for Wednesday afternoon on the restraining order, said Cecille Bondet, press secretary to Gov. Sila Calderon.

The suit is based on an anti-noise law just passed by the Puerto Rican legislature.

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The U.S. Navy has announced its intention to resume using the range. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld suspended exercises on Vieques in March to allow talks with Calderon, who has demanded an end to the bombing.

Calderon said the decision to resume use of the bombing range left her no choice but to seek a remedy in court.

"Since taking office, I have worked tirelessly to reconcile this situation through meaningful discussions," said Calderon. "My desire has always been and continues to be that we resolve this issue through open and honest dialogue. But with the U.S. Navy scheduled to resume bombing, I am left with no other alternative than to take these steps and fight for the rights of people of Vieques and Puerto Rico."

Last year, hundreds of demonstrators were arrested seeking to block use of the bombing range after a guard was killed there by errant bombs.

The Pentagon says it needs the range, which it has used since 1941, for combat training for Navy and Marine pilots.

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