Thousands call for scrapping of nuclear plants in Taiwan

Tens of thousands took part in a rally in Taipei yesterday calling on the government to heed the lesson of the Japanese atomic crisis and scrap the island's nuclear facilities.

Protesters waved placards and flags painted with slogans such as "No Nuke, No fear" and "No Nuke for Our Children" as they gathered in a square outside the presidential office.

Worries about Taiwan's atomic facilities have grown since a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck Japan on March 11, 2011, crippling the nuclear plant at Fukushima.

"Like Japan, Taiwan is an island with many earthquakes and I think it is just too dangerous to build a new nuclear plant near Taipei," said high school student Lu Pei-ying.

The Taipei protest, which took place as three other rallies were held simultaneously across the island, drew an estimated 50,000 people, according to the group that organised it, the Green Citizens' Action Alliance.

Police estimates of the size of the crowd were not immediately available.