Indian climbs British parliament

An Indian was among some 60 environmental campaigners who climbed on to the roof of the British parliament Sunday evening to urge rich nations to take the lead on climate change action.

"We are here on the roof because we want to tell British MPs that it is the rich countries who must lead by example and announce binding cuts on their carbon emissions," Brikesh Singh of Greenpeace India told IANS on mobile telephone.

Singh said the protesters, who are carrying banners, want to spend the night on the rooftop and "wait for MPs" who return Monday morning for the winter session of parliament.

"Rich countries should stop pressurising India to take on biding cuts. The problem of climate change was created by developed countries, but India wants to be part of the solution," he added.

Countries gather in Copenhagen in December in a bid to agree a successor regime to the Kyoto Protocol aimed at curbing climate change.