|
  |
|
 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spanish protest over Prestige slick
MADRID, Spain -- Hundred of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Madrid in protest at the Spanish government's handling of the Prestige oil tanker disaster. Wearing oil-stained jump suits and demanding resignations, the protesters marched on Sunday in protest against the country's worst ecological disaster. A sea of flags bearing the light blue and white colours of the northwest Galicia region fluttered in the sea of people taking part in a procession led by a float depicting the oil tanker, which broke in two and sank in November. While the Interior Ministry estimated attendance at about 100,000, organisers -- a coalition of ecological, labour and social groups -- told the national news agency Efe it was over a million. Many protesters painted their faces with black tears and carried banners and posters demanding answers from Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and his ministers. "Aznar, come and clean our beaches," Sara Muinos, a 24-year-old waitress from La Coruna told the Associated Press. Alberto Carballo, a 26-year travel agent, said ministers should resign. He said: "Aznar has to understand that there is no impunity." The Prestige broke in two and sank on November 19, and the government now estimates it spilled about half of its cargo of 77,000 tons (20.5 million gallons or 77.6 million litres) of toxic, viscous fuel oil. The accident and resulting oil slick has devastated hundreds of beaches along the north west Galician coast. The region's sea-dependent economy has been severely affected.
Clean-up costs are estimated to be at least a billion dollars and much of the oil remains inside the ship under nearly 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) of Atlantic ocean, posing a technological conundrum over how to remove it. Sunday's protest came as Aznar met with President George W. Bush in the U.S. to discuss the Iraq crisis. (Story) Aznar has stood by Bush in the face of opposition at home. Last Saturday, an estimated 3 million Spaniards -- about one of every 13 -- demonstrated against the possible attack. Writer Manuel Rivas, heading the Prestige demonstration, told state radio: "This is our war, the Prestige war, the war that needs to be resolved and we are asking for political responsibilities to be taken."
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
