Thousands protest against nuclear plant in Taiwan

Thousands of Taiwanese took to the streets on Saturday to protest against a new nuclear power station as safety concerns mounted in the wake of the atomic crisis in Japan, an organiser said. Holding sunflowers and bright yellow banners reading "No Nuke", demonstrators rallied simultaneously in several cities across Taiwan, with the largest protest in the capital Taipei, said main organiser Tsui Shu-hsin.
"We demand the government halt the construction of the fourth nuclear plant and not to extend operation dates of the existing three," said Tsui, of the environmental group Green Citizens' Action Alliance. Sunflowers symbolised a desire for clean and environmentally-friendly energy sources, organisers said. Worries about Taiwan's atomic facilities grew after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami struck Japan on March 11, crippling a nuclear power plant in Fukushima. Organisers estimated a turnout of at least 5,000 in Taipei, but no police figure was immediately available.