An AFP reporter said the 12 "Castor" containers, transporting waste treated at a facility in northwest France, arrived without incident on low loader trucks at a dump in Gorleben at 5:25 am (0425 GMT).

Overnight, police dispersed around 500 anti-nuclear activists who had gathered at the village of Grippel, near Gorleben, in a last-ditch effort to block the transport. No incidents were reported.

The consignment, which left France's La Hague treatment plant on Sunday, was dogged by protests both in France and Germany, a common occurence since the controversial practice began in 1995.

Around 13,000 police were deployed this year in what has become one of Germany's largest security operations of its kind.

WAR.WIRE