Japan vows to pursue anti-whaling activist Watson despite Interpol decision

Tokyo: Japan reacted angrily on Wednesday after Interpol lifted its red wanted notice against anti whaling activist Paul Watson, insisting its own arr...

Tokyo: Japan reacted angrily on Wednesday after Interpol lifted its red wanted notice against anti-whaling activist Paul Watson, insisting its own arrest warrant remains valid.

Interpol had issued the notice against Watson, known for radical tactics including confrontations with whaling ships at sea, at the request of Japan.

But "Interpol has officially and permanently dismissed the Red Notice against me", Watson said in a statement Tuesday, calling the move an end to the Japanese whalers' "vendetta".

Interpol confirmed to AFP that it had deleted the red notice, which asks police worldwide to arrest a suspect.

Tokyo called the decision "extremely regrettable", with top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi saying it would not deter Japan.