European leaders struggle to defuse oil price anger

European leaders are struggling to defuse growing anger over soaring fuel prices, as fisherman and truck drivers staged protests in several countries, with more strikes planned in coming days.

Fishermen and truck drivers were in the vanguard of the protests across western Europe over rising fuel costs, amid recent record global oil prices over 130 dollars a barrel.
French riot police cleared blockading fishermen from an oil depot at Fos-sur-Mer near Marseille, but off the north coast of France, fishing fleets resumed blockades of ports and cross-Channel ferries over high fuel prices.

In London meanwhile, hundreds of angry haulage truckers, horns blaring, drove their lorries in a rolling protest through the centre of the capital.

They handed in a petition to Downing Street demanding a rebate in fuel tax.

About a hundred lorry drivers staged a similar protest in the Welsh capital Cardiff.

In Spain, lorry drivers joined striking fishermen in calling for government help to cover soaring fuel costs, before a meeting between road transport firm bosses and transport ministry officials.

Italian, Greek and Portuguese fishermen may strike later this week.

AFP