Thousands rally in China against Sino-French nuclear project

Thousands of residents in an eastern Chinese port city have taken to the streets to protest against a possible Sino-French nuclear project.

Protesters in Lianyungang ignored police warnings, filling a square near government offices to oppose the proposed nuclear waste processing plant, residents said Monday.

Shouting slogans and waving banners, the protesters voiced their concerns over the negative health impacts of the suggested nuclear project.

“Building a nuclear waste processing plant in Lianyungang is a recipe for disaster for future generations, local people have a right to express anger,” a male hotel worker told the AFP news agency.

Pictures posted online showed locals massing in a public square surrounded by hundreds of police.

Locals put the number of the protesters at several thousands, saying there were clashes with police. 

The city's police denied a "rumor" that they had beaten protesters resulting in the death of one person.

China is increasing its nuclear power capacity on a huge scale and encouraging state-run firms to build plants abroad.

SS