Taiwan vote on nuclear plant referendum sparks brawl

A fight has broken out in Taiwan's parliament ahead of a vote on a referendum on a nuclear plant.

Several Taiwanese lawmakers exchanged punches and threw cups and bottles of water at each other on Friday.

The parliament is set to vote on whether to hold a referendum on completing construction of the plant, which is located close to Taipei.

Nuclear power is controversial in Taiwan, where safety fears remain in the wake of Japan's Fukushima disaster.

The nuclear plant, also known as Nuke 4, would be the island's fourth. It has been in construction for more than 10 years, and is near completion.

However, Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party is against the plant, citing safety fears.

More than 200,000 people took part in anti-nuclear protests in March.