'50,000 demonstrators at Hambach forest '

munster - The big demonstration at the German 'brown coal forest' in Hambach, according to the organization, has drawn 50,000 people. The demonstration was peaceful and friendly, said the police who did not want to give an estimate of the number of demonstrators. According to the German Association for Nature and Environmental Protection BUND it was the largest manifestation against lignite ever. The activists made a walk through the forest.

On Thursday, the police still banned the protest, but the judge ruled Friday that the demonstration could continue anyway. Energy company RWE wants to cover more than 100 hectares of forest in the coming months to expand lignite mining in Hambach.