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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| French workers release UK bosses | French workers release UK bosses |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Three British bosses held hostage by workers at an adhesives factory in France over plans to close the site have been released. | Three British bosses held hostage by workers at an adhesives factory in France over plans to close the site have been released. |
| The executives and a local manager, who were captured at British firm Scapa on Tuesday night, have now left the site. | The executives and a local manager, who were captured at British firm Scapa on Tuesday night, have now left the site. |
| European finance director Ian Bushell said unions representing staff carried out the "non-aggressive" action. | European finance director Ian Bushell said unions representing staff carried out the "non-aggressive" action. |
| A truck was used to block the plant's entrance in Bellegarde sur Valserine in the south east, Mr Bushell added. | A truck was used to block the plant's entrance in Bellegarde sur Valserine in the south east, Mr Bushell added. |
| 'Totally unacceptable' | 'Totally unacceptable' |
| In total 68 employees face redundancy at the firm, which manufactures adhesive films and tapes for the car and construction industries. | |
| Meanwhile, French president Nicolas Sarkozy has vowed to end the practice of "boss-napping" after militant workers targeted four factories in the past month. | Meanwhile, French president Nicolas Sarkozy has vowed to end the practice of "boss-napping" after militant workers targeted four factories in the past month. |
| He said the practice was "totally unacceptable" and warned people found guilty would face prosecution. | He said the practice was "totally unacceptable" and warned people found guilty would face prosecution. |
| The presidents of three universities have also been taken hostage by students protesting at education cuts. | The presidents of three universities have also been taken hostage by students protesting at education cuts. |
| Mr Sarkozy said: "What is this business of sequestering people? We have the rule of law, and I will not let matters go on like that. | Mr Sarkozy said: "What is this business of sequestering people? We have the rule of law, and I will not let matters go on like that. |
| "We can understand that people are angry, but this anger will subside with answers and results, not by aggravating matters with actions that are contrary to the law. | "We can understand that people are angry, but this anger will subside with answers and results, not by aggravating matters with actions that are contrary to the law. |
| "I am insisting the police and courts arrest and prosecute those workers who take the law into their own hands in this way." | "I am insisting the police and courts arrest and prosecute those workers who take the law into their own hands in this way." |