Madrid - Thousands of motorists were stranded yesterday as striking hauliers blocked main roads linking Spain and France causing queues of up to 10 km at the frontier crossings at Irun and Junquera, Jane Walker reports. Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia were also hit by the nationwide protest at the high taxes on diesel fuel.
The 72-hour strike, called two weeks ago, comes as transport workers and the government continued their round-the-clock negotiations to seek a solution to the crisis. The hauliers are being pressed to accept an offer similar to one agreed at the weekend by fishermen and farmers which has brought an end to their protests.
The government has offered to grant them low-interest credits and a 50 per cent reduction in social security payments for the next four months.