Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Thousands March in Mauritius Over Dead Dolphins, Oil Spill

Associated Press

   JOHANNESBURG - Honking and drumming, tens of thousands of people
   protested Saturday in Mauritius over the government's slow response to
   an oil spill from a grounded Japanese ship and the alarming discovery
   of dozens of dead dolphins in recent days.

   The protesters displayed signs such as ``You have no shame" and ``I've
   seen better Cabinets at IKEA."

   One protester scrawled "Inaction" on an inflatable dolphin held above
   the crowd.

   They marched peacefully through the capital, Port Louis, a month after
   the ship struck a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island nation. It
   later cracked under the pounding surf and spilled around 1,000 tons of
   fuel oil into fragile marine areas.

   'Turning point'

   ``It's clear we are at a turning point in the history of our country,''
   a commentary in the Le Mauricien newspaper said. Other protests were
   reported outside the Mauritius High Commission in London and in Paris
   and Perth, Australia.

   Addressing the crowd in Port Louis, some speakers called for top
   officials to step down. There was no immediate government comment.

.