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February 2nd, 2012

Video from Iranian State Television, PressTV:

Via: Bloomberg:

The fourth day of strikes by truckers continue to disrupt transport across Italy, forcing Fiat SpA to stop production and Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Co. SA. to halt two plants, as protests mount against the government’s austerity measures.

Truck drivers demonstrating against high fuel prices, with the backing of farmers, livestock owners and fishermen, are maintaining road blocks in parts of the country. Drivers crippled nationwide commerce on the first day of the protests on Jan. 23 when they blocked toll booths across the country’s highway network.

Fiat said it won’t be able to restart output before 2 p.m. tomorrow because of a shortage of parts. The maker of the Punto and Panda models has lost production of 8,400 vehicles since the start of the strike. Coca-Cola said in a statement it halted two facilities because it wasn’t receiving supplies and was having trouble distributing its products.

Food shortages are driving up prices in parts of the country, and the protests have cost farmers about 100 million euros ($131 million) by preventing delivery of produce, trade association Coldiretti said.

Drivers are suffering from higher levies on fuel included in a 20 billion-euro austerity package passed by Prime Minister Mario Monti’s government last month that left Italy with the region’s highest gasoline prices, currently about $9 a gallon. A second plan passed last week aims to open up closed professions, and has prompted protests from taxi drivers, pharmacists, lawyers and notaries.

Economy, Energy, Food | Posted in Collapse Top Of Page