A “GLOBAL RETHINK” on nuclear energy is needed following the disasters at Japan’s Fukushima plant and at Chernobyl, Secretary General of the UN Ban Ki-moon has said.

Ban said that the two disasters showed that “nuclear accidents respect no borders”.

Speaking an international conference in the Ukrainian capital Kiev to mark the 25th anniversary of the nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl site, Ban said: “How can we ensure the peaceful use of nuclear energy and maximum safety? We need a global re-think on this fundamental question”, Reuters reports.

“Nuclear power plants must be built to withstand everything from earthquakes to tsunamis, from fires to floods,” he said.

He called for the adoption of a “top to bottom” approach to reviewing nuclear safety regulations – and said that plants should be more transparent about their operations to secure public confidence.

He also called for support of the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Read more: Authorities may limit access to Fukushima evacuation zone >

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