"Back-room negotiations began in earnest Monday on a deal to rescue the only treaty governing greenhouse gas reductions and to launch talks on a broader agreement to include the world's largest polluters: China and other emerging economies, the United States and Europe."

"Key players laid out their opening positions in public at U.N. climate talks in South Africa, and were beginning a round of private meetings to probe each other's meanings and intentions — which remained murky.

South African authorities said they were deporting three activists from the Greenpeace environmental group after they were arrested trying to drape a protest banner from the rooftop of a beachfront hotel. The activists from Germany, Denmark and Australia pleaded guilty to trespassing in a court hearing, the Home Affairs Department said."

Arthur Max reports for the Associated Press December 5, 2011.
[2]
SEE ALSO:

"U.S. Sees Little New in China Greenhouse Gas Cut Pledge" (Reuters)
[3]
"U.N. Climate Chief Sees Air Clearing On Cut Pledges" (Reuters)
[4]
"A User"s Guide To The Climate Change Talks" (NPR)
[5]
"India Emerges as Chief Opponent of a New Global-Warming Treaty" (Independent) [6]

"China Pushes for Post 2020 Legally-Binding Climate Deal" (AFP)
[7]
"Canada, U.S. Skeptical of Chinese Offer" (Montreal Gazette)
[8]
"Durban on Track To Be a Bonfire of Piety" (Australian [Murdoch-owned])
[9]
"Durban: Deadlock Over Kyoto at Climate Summit" (IBN/CNN) [10]