Two environmental groups behind Saturday's rally are insisting that Din l-Art Ħelwa was never involved in the organisation of the protest and was never going to take part.

Just three days before a protest against environmental abuse, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar and the Ramblers Association took exception to a statement by the heritage organisation that it had dropped out of the rally because it believed it was "sadly flawed" on its stand against the Valletta regeneration plans.

Alex Vella, from the Ramblers Association, and the FAA's Astrid Vella said DLĦ was never part of the original group that organised the protest. "They didn't drop out of the protest because they were never in it."

DLĦ executive president Petra Bianchi said on Tuesday the organisation was not taking part in Saturday's rally because it did not agree with the other eight organisations' stand that the new project for the entrance to Valletta was in violation of the Structure Plan.

Dr Bianchi stood by that statement yesterday and expressed her organisation's "disappointment" at the NGOs' reaction, insisting that it was invited to be part of the organising group from the early stages and had been in ongoing talks to determine its involvement before deciding not to take part.

She said DLĦ was disappointed the Valletta project was not removed from the list of issues and it had no option but to drop out.

"We could not commit because we had to see how things would develop. We made it clear we would not take part if this issue was one of the reasons for the rally but our request to have it removed was ignored.

"We cannot understand why they refused to remove it and why it was such a sticking point. It is a pity... On the one hand, they are saying they understand our position and, on the other, they are claiming we were never involved," Dr Bianchi said. The eight groups said they res-pected the organisation's decision and pointed out that the only point of disagreement was the issue of the Valletta plans. "Otherwise, Din l-Art Ħelwa fully supports our arguments," Mr Vella said.

The organisations behind the protest are Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, BirdLife Malta, Friends of the Earth, Greenhouse, Moviment Graffitti, Malta Organic and Agricultural Movement, Nature Trust and the Ramblers Association.