More strikes set to cripple France
Another day of nationwide strikes is planned in France in protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to raise the age of retirement.
The action will see disruption to air travel once again with Ryanair having to cancel 200 flights.
Airport staff including Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs), bus and train drivers and postal workers will all join refinery workers and others in the sixth day of action since June today.
There will also be further mass street protests, and authorities will be alert for any repeat of the sporadic violence which broke out in a number of cities yesterday.
More than 1,500 petrol stations in France have run dry, but the President Nicolas Sarkozy reiterated last night that reform is essential and he is committed to pension reform and raising the retirement age.
The action will be felt by international air passengers again today. Some 200 Ryanair flights are cancelled because of today's action, although Aer Lingus says they have only scrapped two.
