GM saboteurs are likened to Nazis

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A leading scientist in charge of GM crop trials has said GM crop saboteurs are like book-burners in Nazi Germany.

Professor Howard Atkinson said at a press conference in London that the protesters were "zealots" who were not "open to rational scientific debate".

He has called for GM trial sites to be kept secret in their initial stages.

Environmental group Friends of the Earth, who do not condone destroying GM crops, said Professor Atkinson should apologise for making the comparison.

'Zealot'

Professor Atkinson, of the University of Leeds, used the press conference to highlight what he says is the difficulty scientists have in adding to the body of knowledge on GM when opponents are not open to discussion.

He said: "I have great difficulty in seeing what is the distinction between burning university books in 1933, and now trying to prevent new information finding its way into scientific journals to underpin policy development."

He added: "I think they are people who believe in what they are trying to do, but I don't think they are open to rational scientific debate.

It was an extreme comment and an unfair comparison and that Howard Atkinson should be asked to apologise Clare Oxborrow, Friends of the Earth

"They have made up their minds, so they have a closed mind - that's what I mean by a zealot."

Professor Atkinson has suggested the location of small-scale trials should be kept secret from the public, as they are in Canada.

Current legislation requires the exact location of GM crop trials to be publicly available.

'Must stand firm'

Friends of the Earth's food campaigner, Clare Oxborrow, said: "Friends of the Earth - which doesn't get involved in direct action itself - believes it was an extreme comment and an unfair comparison and that Howard Atkinson should be asked to apologise."

In response to Professor Atkinson's calls for GM trial sites to be kept secret, she said: "The government must stand firm and resist this attempt to keep the public and farmers in the dark over GM crop trial locations.

"This information is vital because the crops grown in these trials are in early stages of development and pose unknown environmental and health risks."

Professor Atkinson began a trial of GM potatoes earlier this year which he hoped would be resistant to disease - the crops were pulled up three weeks after they were planted.