JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 30 (UPI) -- Private security guards who reportedly roughed up nuclear power protesters in South Africa won't face charges.
Protesters clashed with a security detail outside the Industrial Development Corp. offices in Sandton in northeastern South Africa.
Greenpeace said five of its members were "roughed up" in the incident.
A statement from Greenpeace Africa spokeswoman Ferrial Adams said the group was demanding a "halt to discussions aimed at expanding nuclear not only in South Africa, but also the rest of the African continent."
After Greenpeace activists chained themselves to the IDC entrance gates, private security guards started to "intimidate" them, Adams said.
"They used their batons to break the chain and started pushing us around. Then they pulled us inside and claimed we were trespassing," she said.
As South Africa is dependent on energy imports, the government has recently decided to consider the possibility of constructing several nuclear power plants to alleviate energy import bills.
