Japan says Fukushima reactors stable

Govt hopes announcement will bring relief to disaster-weary public

TOKYO - Japan said on Friday it had finally brought leaking reactors at Fukushima under control, in what authorities say is a vital step on the long road to recovery, nine months after its nuclear crisis began.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda told a meeting of his nuclear taskforce that the crippled reactors "have reached a state of cold shutdown to the point where the accident is now under control", Jiji Press reported.