Ship Carrying Plutonium Sparks Clashes

A Japanese freighter laden with the largest known cargo of lethal plutonium slipped out of port Saturday night after a day of clashes between French naval commandos and environmentalists.

The Akatsuki Maru left Cherbourg’s military harbor escorted by French warships. It was to join up with an armed Japanese coast guard boat for the two-month voyage home.

A Greenpeace boat outside the port gave chase as the ship and its 1.7 tons of plutonium, the main ingredient in nuclear weapons, steamed into the English Channel, Greenpeace spokesman Damon Moglen said.

Greenpeace said its vessel was boarded briefly by commandos. It then resumed tracking the freighter and was pursued by a French coast guard vessel until it entered international waters, the environmental group said.

The chase concluded a day of confrontation in which 2,000 police, commandos and frogmen vastly outnumbered environmentalists opposed to the Akatsuki Maru’s voyage.

Japan says the plutonium will be used to fire up a new generation of nuclear reactors. Critics fear that the highly toxic chemical could spill or be stolen by terrorists.

France insists the material is not weapons-quality, but Greenpeace contends the Japanese cargo could make 120 crude nuclear bombs.

The Akatsuki Maru had been steaming secretly for a week in international waters since leaving the French port of Brest, where it took on fuel and supplies.

Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Malaysia and several other nations have barred the 324-foot Akatsuki Maru from their waters.

U.S. Defense Department officials said the vessel would be monitored by U.S. warships, planes and military intelligence from the time it leaves French waters until it docks.