- Hundreds of protesters have destroyed a field of genetically
modified maize in south-west France.
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- The demonstrators ripped up the transgenic crop plantation
at Menville, near Toulouse.
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- The activists were led by radical French farmer Jose
Bove, who said the protest was being taken in the interests of consumers.
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- About 15 policemen watched the destruction and took photographs
of those involved, but did not intervene.
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- "We observed the protest, took down the identities
of some of the participants and took photos after warning the organisers
that it was illegal and that the information would be forwarded to the
Haute-Garrone region's prosecutor," an officer told Reuters news agency.
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- Serial action
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- Mr Bove said the protesters were prepared to face the
consequences.
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- "This protest is legitimate and we did it to protect
the consumer. We will assume the legal risks."
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- It was the latest in a series of protests by opponents
of GM crops across Europe.
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- In May, a French court fined three people 600 euros (£396)
each for destroying test fields of GM crops in 1997.
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- There have been about a dozen prosecutions of anti-GM
activists in France over the past seven years.
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- Also in May, the European Commission lifted a six-year
moratorium on GM foods, permitting companies to sell maize known as Bt-11,
packaged as tinned sweetcorn.
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- Critics say GM plants and foods have not been properly
tested and it is too soon to say if they are safe.
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- © BBC MMIV http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3924623.stm
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