Nuclear powered American aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, which arrived in Chennai on July 2, left Thursday morning, US consulate sources said.

The USS Pinckney, which also anchored off the Chennai port, also left at around 10 am. The ships are heading back to the Gulf region.

The arrival of Nimitz in Chennai had raised protests from the Left and other political parties and environmentalists, fearing 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, including women in burkha, demonstrated outside the port demanding that the ship leave Indian waters immediately.

However, crew members, who visited the city, spent time doing community work, sight-seeing and shopping.