Monday October 2, 12:53 PM
Austrians block Czech embassy in nuclear row
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/001002/80/al9gq.html

 VIENNA (Reuters) - Environmentalists blocked the Czech embassy in the Austrian capital Vienna on Monday in protest at plans to activate a nuclear power plant just across the border in the Czech Republic.

 Greenpeace activists blocked the entrance to the embassy with yellow nuclear waste barrels and a large banner warning of the risks of a nuclear accident.

 The Austrian government and environmentalists want the start-up of the Soviet-designed Temelin plant postponed to allow an international team of experts to verify its safety.

 The plant was a step from start-up two weeks ago when it suffered a failure of steam valves during testing.

 "A second Chernobyl in the middle of Europe must be avoided by all means," Greenpeace Austria spokesman Franko Petri said.

 The plant, which has a U.S.-made control system, is about 30 miles from the border of fiercely anti-nuclear Austria.

 Vienna has even threatened to torpedo Czech efforts to join the European Union if the start-up is not delayed.

 A spokesman for Czech power producer CEZ said on Monday nuclear reaction at Temelin could be launched within two weeks if everything proceeded as planned during testing.

 CEZ spokesman Ladislav Kriz said repeated hot water tests had begun at the plant after the failure of steam valves during previous checks.

 The plant was a step from launch two weeks ago when the Czech Nuclear Safety Office (SUJB) ordered replacement of the valves, re-sealing of steam supply pipes and repetition of tests.