Voters in Kazakhstan backed the construction of a nuclear power plant in a referendum on Sunday, an exit poll showed, joining several countries across the world in pursuing the clean energy source to curb emissions.

ULKEN, Almaty region, Kazakhstan, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan voted in a referendum on Sunday on whether to build its first nuclear power plant, and an exit poll showed voters backed the idea promoted by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's cabinet as a way to phase out polluting coal plants.

Kazakhstan has approved a plan to build its first nuclear power station in a referendum, overcoming lingering resentment over massive radiation exposure from Soviet-era nuclear tests.The issue of nuclear power is sensitive given that between 1949 and 1989,