Nuclear activists block rail lines

HAMBURG, Germany -- A German nuclear waste consignment was held up for four hours after demonstrators tied themselves to the railway line.

Police said they arrested six people after disturbances involving members of the Robin Wood group on Thursday between the towns of Escheburg and Bergedorf in Germany.

About 250 people were protesting against the movement of spent nuclear fuel rods from the northern German power plant in Kruemmel to the British reprocessing plant Sellafield.

Four activists chained themselves to the track, federal border police said.

No further disturbances were reported and the railway line was cleared.

The train carrying three containers will collect further nuclear waste at the Brokdorf, Grohnde and Neckarwestheim power plants before crossing into France and then Britain.

In recent years, tens of thousands of German anti-nuclear activists have tried to block the transport of nuclear waste heading to reprocessing plants in France and Britain as well as thwart the return of the reprocessed fuel rods.