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Belgium braced for general strike Strike hits Belgium's rail links
(about 13 hours later)
Unions in Belgium are preparing to stage a 24-hour general strike expected to cause transport chaos. A general strike has severely disrupted public transport in Belgium, forcing cancellation of Eurostar rail services.
Workers are protesting at the rising cost of living and what they see as a government failure to fulfil promises to ease inflation. The 24-hour industrial action by Belgium's unions virtually paralysed domestic rail and bus services across the country.
The strike will hit domestic transport networks and has forced Eurostar to cancel services to and from the UK. All Eurostar services from Brussels to London and Lille are also suspended.
The unions are protesting against the rising cost of living and what they see as a government failure to fulfil promises to ease inflation.
Belgium has been in political crisis for the past 15 months amid divisions between French and Flemish speakers.Belgium has been in political crisis for the past 15 months amid divisions between French and Flemish speakers.
The strike, due to start on Sunday evening, will force the closure of the Gare du Midi and the rest of the Belgian rail network. Warning to government
Train services from Belgium to neighbouring countries such as the Netherlands and France are also being cancelled because of the strike. The strike by Belgium's three main unions began at 2200 local time (2000 GMT) on Sunday, forcing the closure of the Gare du Midi and Brussels Central - the two main railway stations in Brussels.
"We have been waiting two years for answers on our purchasing power from the government, so now we are taking action," Rudy de Leeuw, head of the ABVV union, one of three taking part in the strike, told VRT Television. No Eurostar services are running between London and Brussels
Some government ministries will also be shut, as well as post offices and some school childcare services, the Associated Press reported the unions as saying. It also affected metro and bus services in the capital.
Business groups said they would take legal action against unions if they tried to picket in an effort to block people or deliveries from entering company premises during the strike, AP said. "There are hardly any services to Brussels," Frederic Petit, spokesman for train operator Infrabel, was quoted as saying by Reuters.
The strike also led to the cancellation of all Thalys rail services to France, Germany and the Netherlands.
No Eurostar trains were running between Brussels and Lille, the company said.
It said that - because of the amended timetable following last month's fire in the Channel Tunnel - no trains were operating between Lille and the UK either.
The unions are protesting against what they say is the government's inability to respond to rising prices and curb inflation.
"We had to send a warning to the government and employers," Rudy de Leeuw, head of the ABVV union, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
"They have to explain to us how it was able to get so bad. What we need is purchasing power, work and good services," he said.
Business groups have said they will take legal action against unions if they tried to picket in an effort to block people or deliveries from entering company premises during the strike, AP said.