Environment group blocks Australia coal terminal

Sydney: Environmental protesters in Australia brought the world's biggest coal terminal to a standstill on Sunday by blocking rail lines and chaining themselves to rail cars.

Police said they arrested about 37 people who chained themselves to a train and rail tracks at the port in Newcastle, 100km north of Sydney to protest Against the impact of burning coal on climate change.

"This caused three trains to stop before getting to the terminal, meaning about 20,000 tonnes of coal could not be unloaded," a spokesman for the port, Matthew Watson said.

Damien Lawson, an organiser for Friends of the Earth Australia, said up to 50 protesters chained themselves to rail tracks and a train, or sat on top of the train during the demonstration.

"We are achieving what we set out to do," Lawson said. "We said we would temporarily shut down the rail line into the world's biggest coal port and we did. We've sent a message around the world about the need for urgent action on climate change."