1.   The British government has given permission to sink the platform.

2.   The Dutch government is opposed to sinking the platform.

3.   Protests, including Greenpeace activists occupying the platform, forced Shell last week to abandon plans for sinking the platform in the ocean north of Scotland.

4.   As international opposition to the operation grew, the Independent newspaper of London published a leaked government report revealing its own scientists had opposed plans to sink the platform.

5.   As international opposition to the operation grew, the Independent newspaper of London published a leaked government report showing its own scientists had opposed plans to sink the platform.

6.   Boycotts began of Shell products around the world, with environmentalists and some European governments fearing that sinking the platform would pollute the ocean.

7.   British Prime Minister John Major rejected a plea from German Chancellor Helmut Kohl to prevent Shell U.K. Ltd. from sinking the platform.

8.   Hamdan said Greenpeace had not called for a boycott but instead had put out information asserting that sinking the platform would put too much hazardous material into the sea.

9.   He said Norway would not allow Shell to sink the platform in the ocean, but might allow it to be dismantled.

10.   Protests, including Greenpeace activists occupying the platform, forced Shell to last week abandon plans for sinking the platform in the ocean north of Scotland.