Reprieve for ageing German nuclear reactors

Chancellor Angela Merkel and ministers in the governing right-wing coalition reached the agreement after a 10-hour-long marathon session.

Germany's 17 nuclear power stations will now remain online for 12 more years on average, with older stations getting an extra eight years and more recent ones 14 additional years.

The coalition leaders also agreed a new annual tax on utility companies' extra profits starting next year. The measure is aimed at raising 2.3 billion euros (£1.9bn) and the companies will also have to contribute to a special fund to boost renewable energies.

Hundreds of people protested against the planned extension outside the chancellery in Berlin where the meeting took place. Some carried banners which read "Nuclear power - only the risk is secure."

The main opposition parties, the Social Democrats and the Greens, strongly oppose the idea of keeping the power stations longer online, citing the safety risk and the need to switch to renewable power.

The agreement marked "a black day for Germany's energy policy" as the coalition government caved in to pressure from utility companies, opposition leader Sigmar Gabriel declared.