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Chernobyl Blast Remembered in Ukraine

Ukraine has been holding a series of events to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the world`s worst nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl power plant in 1986. The explosion tore-off the plant`s roof, spewing radioactive fallout over swathes of the then-USSR and Europe. President Viktor Yushchenko will visit the site later in the day to meet some of the people who worked at the plant and those who risked their lives to deal with the accident.

Official UN figures predicted up to 9,000 Chernobyl-related cancer deaths. However, a Greenpeace report released last week estimated a figure of 93,000. Greenpeace said other illnesses could bring the toll up to 200,000. A restricted area with a radius of 19 miles remains in force around the destroyed nuclear reactor which is encased in concrete. A monument to victims is due to be unveiled, and parliament is holding a special hearing into the disaster.

In neighboring Belarus, also badly affected by fallout, opposition groups are expected to hold a rally in the capital Minsk to protest against government attempts to rehabilitate contaminated areas. At the time of the accident, which happened at one of four reactors at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant 70 miles north of the capital, Kiev, throughout most of the following day, the Soviet authorities refused to admit anything out of the ordinary had occurred.