After large-scale demonstrations, President Ma Ying-jeou stops project (already 98 per cent completed). Ruling party mayors join demonstrators, ask the government to change rules governing nuclear power referenda.

Taipei (AsiaNews) - Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday decided to halt the construction of the island's fourth nuclear power plant.

Informally known as Nuke 4, the plant is "98 per cent completed" but popular opposition to nuclear power has forced the government to stop its construction.

Yesterday, thousands of people took to the streets and marched from Ma's office to Taipei Railway Station, where they occupied a four-lane avenue until the president made his announcement.

The decision to halt the project was made during a three-hour meeting with 15 ruling Kuomintang (KMT) mayors and magistrates to build consensus and find effective ways to address the issue.

At least three prominent KMT mayors - Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin, New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu Li-luan and Taichung Mayor Jason Hu Chi-chiang - had been sceptical about whether the project should continue.

Chu even called for a change to the rules governing referendums to improve the chances for a successful anti-nuclear result.

Taiwan has three nuclear power plants. In recent years, it has pushed hard to develop green and renewable energy technologies, especially wind and solar.

The island's long-term plan is to make the country totally free from nuclear energy to ensure overall environmental safety and environmentally friendly sustainable energy production.

The existing three nuclear power plants are slated to be phased out by 2025.

However, during the transition period, supporters of the fourth nuclear plant said that it represented an essential pillar in moving the country towards non-nuclear, renewable and affordable energy.

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