Sat, 24 Apr 2010 | PressTVTens of thousands of Germans have created a human chain as they expressed opposition to the use of nuclear energy.
Around 100,000 people participated in the event on Saturday to form the human chain, measuring at 120 kilometers (75 miles) along the Elbe River between the northern towns of Brunsbuettel and Kruemmel that passed through the city of Hamburg.
"The chain is almost complete," a police spokeswoman in the northern German region of Schleswig-Holstein told AFP.
Organizers of the peaceful demonstration dubbed "Chain reaction — Stop nuclear energy" also urged the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel to alter its nuclear policy.
"Today will spark a countrywide chain reaction of protests and resistance if the government does not reverse its atomic policy," organizers said in a statement, according to Reuters.
The German government has offered delay on the closing of the country's 17 nuclear power plants beyond a 2020 target date.
The protests come just days before Monday's 24th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
