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Australia to act on whaling row Australia to act on whaling row
(30 minutes later)
Australia says it will send a ship to collect two activists from a Japanese whaling vessel, in a bid to end a two-day Antarctic stand-off.Australia says it will send a ship to collect two activists from a Japanese whaling vessel, in a bid to end a two-day Antarctic stand-off.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said a ship monitoring the whalers would retrieve the men as soon as possible.Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said a ship monitoring the whalers would retrieve the men as soon as possible.
The protesters, from radical anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, boarded the Japanese ship on Tuesday.The protesters, from radical anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, boarded the Japanese ship on Tuesday.
Whalers say they want to return them, but Sea Shepherd says conditions for the release are unacceptable.Whalers say they want to return them, but Sea Shepherd says conditions for the release are unacceptable.
Mr Smith said that the patrol boat, the Oceanic Viking, would retrieve the men from the Yushin Maru 2 and transfer them to Sea Shepherd's Steve Irwin vessel.Mr Smith said that the patrol boat, the Oceanic Viking, would retrieve the men from the Yushin Maru 2 and transfer them to Sea Shepherd's Steve Irwin vessel.
Both the Japanese and Australian governments had agreed to the plan, he said.Both the Japanese and Australian governments had agreed to the plan, he said.
"We now need the full and complete co-operation of the two vessels, the two captains and the two men concerned.""We now need the full and complete co-operation of the two vessels, the two captains and the two men concerned."
RhetoricRhetoric
The stand-off has ratcheted up tensions between Sea Shepherd and the whalers, who have clashed in the past.The stand-off has ratcheted up tensions between Sea Shepherd and the whalers, who have clashed in the past.
The Japanese want Sea Shepherd to guarantee a safe handoverThe Japanese want Sea Shepherd to guarantee a safe handover
Australian Benjamin Potts and Briton Giles Lane boarded the whaler on Tuesday to deliver a protest.Australian Benjamin Potts and Briton Giles Lane boarded the whaler on Tuesday to deliver a protest.
The whalers say the men tried to damage their propeller and threw acid before illegally boarding.The whalers say the men tried to damage their propeller and threw acid before illegally boarding.
They offered to return them if Sea Shepherd agreed not to confront the whaling vessel during the handover.They offered to return them if Sea Shepherd agreed not to confront the whaling vessel during the handover.
Sea Shepherd said the men were roughed up when they boarded the vessel and ruled out any kind of conditional hand-over.Sea Shepherd said the men were roughed up when they boarded the vessel and ruled out any kind of conditional hand-over.
As the deadlock continued, Sea Shepherd threatened a commando-style raid if the activists were not returned. A whaling official, meanwhile, said the activists could be taken to Japan if Sea Shepherd did not co-operate.As the deadlock continued, Sea Shepherd threatened a commando-style raid if the activists were not returned. A whaling official, meanwhile, said the activists could be taken to Japan if Sea Shepherd did not co-operate.
Mr Smith gave no timescale for the manoeuvre.Mr Smith gave no timescale for the manoeuvre.
"We would like the transfer to be expedited as soon as possible but people should understand it is a difficult operation," he said."We would like the transfer to be expedited as soon as possible but people should understand it is a difficult operation," he said.
The Oceanic Viking has been following the fleet to collect evidence for a possible legal challenge against the whalers in international courts.The Oceanic Viking has been following the fleet to collect evidence for a possible legal challenge against the whalers in international courts.
The fleet plans to kill about 900 minke whales and 50 fin whales by mid-April as part of what it describes as a scientific research programme.The fleet plans to kill about 900 minke whales and 50 fin whales by mid-April as part of what it describes as a scientific research programme.
But other nations and environment groups say the research goals could be achieved using non-lethal methods and call the programme a front for commercial whaling.But other nations and environment groups say the research goals could be achieved using non-lethal methods and call the programme a front for commercial whaling.
TRACKING JAPANESE WHALERS November 2007: Japanese fleet of six whaling ships sets sail 31 December: MV Esperanza carrying Greenpeace campaigners enters Antarctic waters on trail of Japanese fleet. MV Steve Irwin carrying rival Sea Shepherd Conservation Group also heads towards whaling fleet9 January: Australian ship Oceanic Viking leaves Perth on whaling surveillance mission15 January: Two Britons held by Japanese after boarding Yushin Maru No 2 to deliver protest letter TRACKING JAPANESE WHALERS November 2007: Japanese fleet of six whaling ships sets sail 31 December: MV Esperanza carrying Greenpeace campaigners enters Antarctic waters on trail of Japanese fleet. MV Steve Irwin carrying rival Sea Shepherd Conservation Group also heads towards whaling fleet9 January: Australian ship Oceanic Viking leaves Perth on whaling surveillance mission15 January: One Briton and one Australian held by Japanese after boarding Yushin Maru No 2 to deliver protest letter