Taiwanese want nuclear construction halted

Several surveys indicate that the majority of the Taiwanese people want to stop construction of the island's fourth nuclear power plant.

According to a poll by Common Wealth magazine, 58.7 percent of the respondents support the decision to halt the plant, but when asked about the possible electricity price rises if nuclear power was abolished, only 46.2 of those favoring suspension say they will accept such a situation, measured against 50.3 percent who say no.

The Taiwan authority has agreed to halt construction of the plant and hold a referendum to decide its fate with warnings of a 40-percent rise in electricity prices.

Another poll by multimedia group Want Want China Times shows over half of the surveyed residents agree that Taiwan should do away with nuclear power, while 29.6 percent supports its use.

Another survey by Taiwan Thinktank shows 63.3 percent of those polled say Taiwan should abandon the fourth plant as its safety can not be guaranteed. Meanwhile, 65.6 percent say they will vote for scrapping the project in a vote.

Antinuclear protests continued on Monday as some activists blocked the exit of the legislative building in Taipei to prevent the lawmakers from leaving.