Nuclear issue splits German election

An estimated 50,000 protesters took to the streets of Berlin at the weekend to demonstrate against plans to extend the life of nuclear power plants.

Under Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats (SPD) and Green Party administration in 2000, Germany decided to close down its 17 reactors by 2020.

But ahead of national elections on September 27, German leader Angela Merkel's Christian Democrat party said it wants to scrap that decision and keep them open.

The SPD have been in coalition with the Merkel's Christian Democrat party for the past four years but oppose plans to extend the life of nuclear power stations.

According to a Greenpeace study released at the weekend, 59 percent of Germans are opposed to extending the life of the nuclear plants.

See also

• No nuclear, says new SDC chief Will Day
• UK urged to triple nuclear power
• Finland's fears over nuclear reactor