Protests against drone strikes near US base in Germany

Thousands form human chain near Ramstein Air Base, which they say is used to control aircraft operating in Middle East

Peace activists form a human chain on the street leading towards the US air base during the 'Stopp-Ramstein' campaign in Ramstein, Germany, Saturday June 11, 2016 (Oliver Dietze/dpa via AP)
Peace activists form a human chain on the street leading towards the US air base during the 'Stopp-Ramstein' campaign in Ramstein, Germany, Saturday June 11, 2016 (Oliver Dietze/dpa via AP)

BERLIN — Demonstrators have formed a human chain near a US air base in western Germany to protest against lethal drone strikes.

Organizers estimated that about 5,000 people took part in the chain near the Ramstein Air Base on a rainy Saturday, while police put the number at some 2,000, news agency dpa reported.

Activists contend that the base is used to relay flight control data for lethal drone strikes. They are calling for the base, a major US military hub, eventually to be closed altogether.

President Barack Obama said during a 2013 visit to Berlin that “we do not use Germany as a launching point for unmanned drones … as part of our counterterrorism activities.”

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.

Most Popular
read more: