Jude Law Joins Greenpeace Protest in London

British actor Jude Law joined hundreds of people gathered in London Saturday as part of worldwide Greenpeace protests over Russia's jailing of activists opposed to Arctic oil drilling.

"Sherlock Holmes" star Law, joined by Damon Albarn, the frontman of British band Blur, and guitarist Paul Simonon of The Clash, voiced support for his friend Frank Hewetson, one of 30 Greenpeace activists threatened with up to 15 years in prison.

British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood also turned out to join demonstrators who held up placards showing the faces and names of those detained.

Police said about 800 people had gathered for the protest that lasted about two hours. Organizers put the number at 1,000.

"Of course I am worried about Frank because I care about his family and I care about him but I know that he is incredibly durable," Law told reporters as he took part in the demonstration held outside the Russian embassy.

"I think that it is very interesting that the people over there (Greenpeace activists) probably knew there would be an arrest involved and the threat of a conviction is probably part and parcel of the act of drawing attention to the drilling in the Arctic which we all know is an international problem which needs confronting."

Law added: "What is ludicrous is that they have been charged with piracy which has a threat of 15 years in prison."

Greenpeace supporters held vigils across the world Saturday in support of the activists, whose imprisonment has sparked a new row between Moscow and the West.

A 950-tonne icebreaker sailed by Greenpeace was impounded by Russian authorities last month after it approached the world's first oil rig in the pristine Barents Sea -- the focus of energy companies from around the world.

A court in Russia's northwestern region of Murmansk has since charged all crew members -- who come from 18 different countries -- with charges that carry jail terms of up to 15 years.