WELLINGTON, Jan. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Up to 60 protesters from all over New Zealand gathered Sunday at Waihopai Valley satellite station near Blenheim on the South Island for a peaceful protest against the use of the station as a "spy base" for the United States, The Dominion Post reported Monday.

    Earlier in the day, the group, led by the Anti-Bases Campaign, held a rally and marched in central Blenheim.

    The protesters, which included a group from Wellington who tooktheir clothes off and laid down on the ground in the shape of a peace sign, wanted the station to be shut down.

    The Waihopai Valley satellite station is run by New Zealand's Communications Security Bureau. It's two satellite interception dishes, shielded from public view by giant domes, are said to be part of the worldwide Echelon system which intercepts telexes, faxes, email and computer data communications.

    The Anti-Bases Campaign spokesman Murray Horton was quoted as saying that the station is New Zealand's most important contribution to the US war machine.

    "The Bush administration has pronounced intelligence to be the key component of all the war it is fighting, or planning to fight,throughout the world," he said.

    "We want the base closed down," the spokesman added.

    Horton also said future action would be taken against the Waihopai station and the Government Communications Security Bureauwhich runs it, as part of an anti-war program. Enditem