Nine Greenpeace activists arrested in protests at both ends of the failed Star Wars test

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Following today's failed missile test launch Greenpeace has repeated its call for President Clinton to reject plans for a new "Star Wars" missile defence system.

Initial reports stated that the anti-missile weapon failed to intercept a Minuteman II rocket over the Pacific Ocean. Two of the three tests of the system have now failed.

"The failed test just emphasises what a failure in judgement the whole Star Wars programme is," said Greenpeace nuclear disarmament campaigner, William Peden.

"No amount of tests, threat assessments or diplomatic double speak can ever justify Star Wars. The fact is, if it is allowed to go ahead, this programme will ignite a new nuclear arms race. The US administration must heed the strong opposition from around the world that will only continue to grow," said Peden.

The Minuteman missile was fired at 4.18 GMT Friday from Vandenberg Air Force base, north of Santa Barbara, California, after being delayed for 2 hours 18 minutes. Air Force officials claimed that the delay was due to a battery problem. Greenpeace volunteers were still in the Vandenberg base at the time.

Greenpeace conducted a series of internationally co-ordinated actions against the test over a number of days in the run up to the launch. Volunteers entered the launch areas at both Vandenberg in California and Meck Island, part of the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, where the failed kill vehicle was fired from. In addition the Greenpeace vessel Arctic Sunrise entered the test exclusion zone off the California coast.

Seven Greenpeace volunteers entered the Vandenberg on foot, three on Wednesday and the rest on Thursday night, and made their way close to the launch pad for the Minuteman II missile. They were eventually arrested just hours before the final missile launch and were charged with trespassing before being released.

Meanwhile the crew of volunteers aboard the MV Arctic Sunrise sailed into one of the five hazard zones designated in a Notice to Mariners (NOTAM) and launched four inflatable zodiacs. These were areas where stage one of the Minuteman II missile was to be jettisoned. The ship remained in the area when the missile was launched despite Greenpeace calls several hours before the launch to Vandenberg in which they provided their exact co-ordinates. Negotiations continued until minutes before the launch.

Aboard the 164 foot Dutch-registered Arctic Sunrise, are 23 people, including volunteers from United States, Russia, France, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, India, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Cook Islands and Turkey.

A third team of two volunteers attempted to occupy the launch site for the interceptor missile fired from Meck Island, part of the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. They were also arrested and charged with trespass. Greenpeace volunteers around the world also mounted protests against the Star Wars test including China, Russia and Canada.