Germans call on Czech govt to shut down Temelin, stocks plunge

The Czech government is waiting for a letter from Germany, which apparently calls on Prague to shut down the controversial Temelin nuclear power station in South Bohemia. The BBC reported on Friday that Berlin had approved a statement calling on Prague to withdraw Temelin from service. German ministers are reported to have serious concerns over safety at the plant, which went into test operation last October. If the report is confirmed it will be a further blow to Temelin, which has suffered numerous technical problems since going into test operation and is currently shut for repairs on a turbine. The report has caused considerable confusion in Prague. The leader of the Czech Republic's ruling Social Democrats, Vladimir Spidla, said on Saturday that the document did not exist. However the Foreign Ministry announced shortly afterwards that the document was real, and was on its way to Prague.