Nimitz leaves Chennai

CHENNAI: Nuclear-powered American aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, whose visit sparked protests by some political parties and environmentalists, left this morning after being anchored off the Chennai port for four days.

The USS Pinckney, which was anchored off the Chennai port, also left at around 10 am, US consulate sources said.

The ships are heading back to the Gulf region. The arrival of the world's largest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Chennai had triggered protests from the Left and other political parties and environmentalists, who feared radiation from the ship which is powered by two nuclear plants.

The Left parties held a protest outside Chennai port on July 2 where they burnt a model of the ship with the American flag on it.

On Tuesday, hundreds of Muslims demonstrated outside the port demanding that the ship leave Indian waters immediately. Crew members, who visited the city, spent time doing community work, sight-seeing and shopping.