French Crisis Talks As Strike Squeezes Fuel

Published: 8 September 2000 y., Friday
Crisis talks between truckers and the French government looked set to continue into Thursday night as leaders sought to end protests over fuel taxes that have blocked roads and choked petrol supplies across the country. Although Premier Lionel Jospin drew the line at a 15 percent cut on Wednesday, out on the front line angry truckers blocking petrol stations and refineries seemed bent on forcing the government into a 20 percent reduction in diesel fuel taxes in a display of unrest now raising questions in Brussels. Farmers tried to block the Channel Tunnel freight train entrance and cab drivers traveling at a snail's pace in a protest code-named ``Operation Escargot'' also joined the protest. Transport Minister Jean-Claude Gayssot talked with truck union leaders for 90 minutes late on Thursday. The leaders left to consult their supporters and Gayssot agreed to meet them again separately at 1900 GMT and 2100 GMT respectively. Several hundred taxis turned out to protest at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, 600 in Bordeaux and 1,000 each in Lyon and Marseille, taxi union chief Alain Estival said.
Šaltinis: dailynews.netscape.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

The most popular articles

Hungary far right protest

Marching through the streets of Ozd around 600 Hungarian Guards staged one of their biggest protests. more »

MEPs back efficient road tyres to cut fuel bills and CO2 emissions

If the tyres on your car are under inflated or of poor quality then you may be filling up with fuel more often than you should be. more »

Christians mark Palm Sunday

Pilgrims packed into St Peter's Square in Rome under sunny skies, to mark Palm Sunday. They had gathered to commemorate Jesus Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem a week before being crucified. more »

Gold fever in California

Amid the backdrop of California's soaring unemployment and the collapse of its housing market, "gold fever" has taken hold of some newly-minted miners. more »

Roma give Parliament award for its support

A group of Roma organisations Thursday honoured the European Parliament for its support of the Roma and their rights during the current legislative term. more »

Argentina's Alfonsin dies

Mourners gathered outside the home of Argentina's former president Raul Alfonsin soon after the news of his death emerged. more »

1 in 3 UK children live in poverty

1 in 3 children in the UK are considered poor - that's more than any other industrialised country. more »

Adapting to a changed climate

Planning will reduce the impact of climate change on health, energy supplies, transport systems, farming and tourism. more »

Race to save UK honey bee

Urban beekeepers Alison Benjamin and Brian McCallum are on a mission to save the British honey bee. A deadly virus is threatening to wipe out bees in the UK. more »

Human rights in the world in 2008: MEPs highlight pluses and minuses

The gradual retreat of the death penalty round the world and progress on women's and children's rights are among positive developments noted in the EP's draft annual report on human rights for 2008. more »