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Protesters scale UK parliament
27/02/2008 14:48 - (SA)
London - A group of demonstrators climbed onto the roof of Britain's House of Parliament and unfurled a banner on Wednesday to protest plans to build a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport.
The protesters, part of the campaign group, Plane Stupid, gained access to the rooftop despite tight security at Parliament that includes armed police guards.
Protesters threw paper airplanes from the roof and the banner said "No Third Runway."
Witnesses said five people were on the roof while police said there were as many as six.
Richard George, one of the demonstrators, said the protest was taking place to highlight what they called weak leadership from Prime Minister Gordon Brown over the impact of aviation on climate change.
"The prime minister does not even have the courage to ask Londoners the simple question: 'Do you want a third runway?"' George said by cell phone from the rooftop.
He said the group gained access to Parliament as visitors - who must be invited by a lawmaker or accompanied by a security pass holder - but walked through the building and climbed onto the roof.
The parliamentary department responsible for security said it could not immediately explain how the protesters had been able to carry out the demonstration.
Police said they were investigating the security breach.
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