Outrage at police search

Kevin Rudd. Photo / Greg Bowker

MELBOURNE: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has reiterated his Government's stance of prosecuting Japanese whalers in an international court if they continue their annual cull, after Australian Federal Police boarded the anti-whaling ship the Steve Irwin yesterday.

The Sea Shepherd ship docked in Hobart after an engine problem forced it to end this season's Southern Ocean campaign.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said about five federal police officers boarded the boat and executed a search warrant at the request of Japanese authorities.

Rudd would not comment directly on the action but said the Government's position on Japanese whaling was clear.

"Either the Government of Japan agrees to reduce its current catch from where it is to zero, in a reasonable time, or the Australian Government will prosecute this matter in the international court of justice and we would initiate that action prior to the next whaling season," he said.

Senator Brown labelled the search "outrageous".

"This is outrageous that Australian police are at the disposal of the Japanese whale killers," he said.

- AAP