Court rules against re-opening controversial nuclear plant

A federal court in Berlin has refused to re-open a controversial nuclear power station which was shut down almost ten years ago.

The court said doubts about its safety were still unresolved.

The plant at Muelheim-Kaerlich in the Rhine valley is in an area of Germany which opponents say is particularly prone to earthquakes.

A representative of the power company said there was now little chance it would operate again.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service