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.

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.

Kazakhstan votes in a referendum on Sunday on whether to build its first nuclear power plant, an idea promoted by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's government as the Central Asian nation seeks to phase out polluting coal plants.