Spanish truckers go on strike

Spanish trucking firms, angry at soaring fuel costs, decided yesterday on an indefinite national strike after last-minute talks with the Government failed to reach agreement, state radio said.

The transport firms want concessions from the Government on fuel taxes and other costs.

The strike has been called by the Spanish Confederation of Goods Transport, which controls 60 per cent of the market. The second-largest employers' group said it would not join the strike.

Truck drivers in parts of northern and northwestern Spain have already been on strike for a week, and some supermarkets in the region are short of fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, fish and meat.