Greenpeace protests at PNG logging meeting

PORT MORESBY - The environmental group Greenpeace has unfurled a large banner on a major hotel in the Papua New Guinea capital Port Moresby calling for a halt to the destruction of forests.

The bright yellow banner unfurled on the Crowne Plaza this morning, just before a meeting of the International Tropical Timber Organisation, was deployed by two Greenpeace activists who abseiled down from hotel room balconies.

The PNG government and foreign logging companies in the country have long been accused of colluding to allow illegal logging practices in the pacific nation.

The government and the companies have vehemently denied the accusations and accuse Greenpeace and other environmental groups of mounting a smear campaign against them.

About 20 minutes after the banner was unfurled, an unidentified official untied the top of the banner to the jeers of onlookers in the street below.

- AAP