Interpol issues arrest warrant for Sea Shepherd chief

Interpol has issued an international notice for the arrest of fugitive eco-warrior Paul Watson, famed for his high-seas clashes with Japanese whalers, after he skipped bail in Germany. Watson's Sea Shepherd organisation was two years ago also involved in clashes with tuna fishermen based in Malta and later faced court action by a Maltese company. It today denounced Interpol's move as part of a "politically motivated" campaign led by Japan to put an end to his efforts against whaling. Watson, a 61-year-old Canadian, was arrested in May in Frankfurt on a warrant from Costa Rica, where he is wanted on charges stemming from a high-seas confrontation over shark finning in 2002. "Following confirmation from German authorities that Paul Watson had failed to satisfy the bail conditions established by the German courts and had fled the country, Costa Rican authorities renewed their request... to issue a Red Notice seeking his detention or arrest with a view to extradition," Interpol said in a statement posted on its website. "Based on Mr Watson's failure to satisfy the bail conditions set by the German court, and the additional information provided by Costa Rica concerning the...