German Eenvironmentalists wage war on gas-guzzlers

BERLIN, July 27 (Reuters) Radical enviromentalists in Germany have declared war on sport utility vehicles and luxury cars, deflating the tyres of more than 80 fuel-guzzlers in less than a week, a Berlin police spokesman said today.

In night-time raids the environmentalists targeted 4x4 SUVs and large luxury vehicles across Berlin, leaving hand-written notes for their owners which pointed to the link between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and global warming.

Although there were differences in the way the tyres were deflated -- some were slashed but others simply had the air let out of them -- investigators assume that one group is behind the campaign, the spokesman said.

The police believe the group may be linked to international organisations such as the ''World Carfree Network'', which encourages direct action in its quarterly magazine ''Carbusters'' published in Prague.

Similar groups in France and Belgium have been known to smear cars with manure.

REUTERS GT RN1717