Around the World: France

Fishermen block terminal

French fishing industry workers blocked a key oil terminal near Marseille yesterday as part of nationwide port protests over rising fuel prices, port officials said.

Some 50 protesters were barring delivery trucks from entering and leaving the Fos-sur-Mer terminal, and have set fire to tires and delivery crates at the site, port officials said. Police were sent to the site.

Protesters also have blocked France's other key Mediterranean oil terminal, at Lavera.

The protesters, including self-employed fishermen and those working for private companies, say fuel makes up a growing share - for some, the majority - of their monthly expenses.

(China Daily 05/21/2008 page24)