South Africa told to  block Nuclear shipment

Johannesburg, 17 March-(ANA)-Greenpeace Africa has called on the South African government not to allow two ships carrying plutonium Mixed-Oxide (MOX) fuel to enter its waters as they make their way from France to Japan. 

This shipment left Chebourg port with about 1.8 tonnes of MOX fuel - enough to make 225 nuclear weapons - and will travel via the Cape of Good Hope this March.

MOX fuel is an alternative nuclear fuel made up of a mixture of uranium and plutonium.

Pacific Pintail and the Pacific Heron, the two ships carrying this deadly fuel are heavily armed and protected by specially trained British forces, Greenpeace said.

Greenpeace  has also sent a warning letter to several African environmental ministers urging them to take immediate action against the two ships.(ANA)

FA/ANA/17 March 2009---