Bratislava - Slovakia activated a controversial nuclear power plant yesterday despite fierce protests from neighbouring Austria and warnings the move could lead to a "massive nuclear accident", officials said.
Fuel rods were activated at one of two reactors at the Mochovce plant in southern Slovakia, some 180 km east of Vienna, after being delayed more than a week due to official protests by Vienna.
The Austrian Chancellor, Mr Viktor Klima, immediately sent a telegram to the Slovak Prime Minister, Mr Vladimir Meciar, who had pledged to inform him before the plant was activated.
The telegram was an "urgent appeal" to Mr Meciar, said Mr Klima's spokesman, while noting Austria had no official confirmation that the reactor had been activated.
Greenpeace said the activation was "a brutal act against Austria and against the European Union".
