Anti-nuclear demonstration launched in western Scotland

Hundreds of anti-nuclear activists launched a demonstration on Monday to blockade the Faslane naval base in western Scotland, the local media reported.

About 200 protestors took part in the demonstration as part of a series of events organized by Scrap Trident Coalition aimed to shut down the base, which is home to Britain's Trident nuclear weapons system, the online British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported.

Some 34 people were arrested, the Scottish police were quoted as saying.

Those attending the event gathered outside gates to the base early Monday morning in an attempt to stop workers from entering in a move to focus attention on Britain's nuclear deterrent in the run up to the general election on May 7.

There were up to 150 demonstrators outside the north gate, with 250 spanning all the gates, organizers said.

The operational output of the base was not affected by the protest as contingency plans had been put in place, a Faslane spokesman said.

Scotland's ruling Scottish National Party called for the nuclear deterrent to be scrapped and urged the British government to abandon plans to replace Trident.

Last week, British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon confirmed that a Conservative government would go ahead with the construction of four new Trident nuclear missile submarines to replace the existing fleet of ageing Vanguard-class boats. Endit