Christians to Protest at BAE Meeting

Members of the Christian Network of Campaign Against Arms Trade will join a public protest outside the annual shareholder meeting of BAE Systems in central London on Wednesday.

The demonstration is being led by CAAT and is calling for the re-opening of a Serious Fraud Office inquiry into BAE's arms deals with Saudi Arabia over allegations it bribed Saudi officials.

CAAT said. The Government intervened last December to end the inquiry, claiming it would compromise the UK's national security interests and hamper efforts to combat terrorism.

CAAT, however, said the Government intervention was a "blatant example of the undemocratic power enjoyed by arms companies in the UK".

The CAAT Christian Network has called on all Christians to support its campaign against BAE.

CAAT Christian Network Co-ordinator Alun Morinan said: "As Christians we are called to be peacemakers and that means ending the arms trade.

"We are protesting against our Government's support for Britain's largest arms company, BAE Systems and their dealings with Saudi Arabia, a regime with an appalling record of persecuting Christians and other faith groups."

BAE's arms deals with Saudi Arabia will also be the focus of this year's Arms Trade Day of Prayer to be marked throughout the UK on Sunday 10 June.

Spokesman for CAAT, Symon Hill, said: "The decision to curtail the Saudi corruption inquiry has shocked people from all walks of life. They object to BAE's excessive and undemocratic influence within Government. As a result, public support is increasing every day for CAAT's campaign to have the inquiry re-opened."

CAAT assured that the demonstration outside the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London, where the BAE AGM will take place, would be strictly nonviolent.

No one was available at BAE Systems for comment.