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| French trains 'hit by sabotage' | French trains 'hit by sabotage' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| France's high-speed TGV rail network has been damaged by a "concerted campaign of sabotage", the SNCF state-owned rail operator has said. | France's high-speed TGV rail network has been damaged by a "concerted campaign of sabotage", the SNCF state-owned rail operator has said. |
| It said acts of sabotage overnight, including fires, caused huge delays to TGV services already hit by a long transport union strike over reforms. | It said acts of sabotage overnight, including fires, caused huge delays to TGV services already hit by a long transport union strike over reforms. |
| The SNCF blamed militants for the attacks, saying they wanted to harm negotiations to end the strike. | The SNCF blamed militants for the attacks, saying they wanted to harm negotiations to end the strike. |
| The talks between rail unions and the government opened on Wednesday. | |
| In a statement, the SNCF said there had been "several acts" occurring "at the same time" on lines in the north, east and south-west of the country. | In a statement, the SNCF said there had been "several acts" occurring "at the same time" on lines in the north, east and south-west of the country. |
| Millions of French people... are tired of being used as hostages Nicolas Sarkozy Sarkozy: 'Thatcher moment'? | Millions of French people... are tired of being used as hostages Nicolas Sarkozy Sarkozy: 'Thatcher moment'? |
| It said these included a "very large" fire on the TGV's Atlantic branch that damaged signals affecting 30km (18 miles) of track. | It said these included a "very large" fire on the TGV's Atlantic branch that damaged signals affecting 30km (18 miles) of track. |
| Union officials deplored the attacks as acts of vandalism, warning that they put people's safety at risk. | Union officials deplored the attacks as acts of vandalism, warning that they put people's safety at risk. |
| The open-ended rail strike is over planned changes to the pension system by President Nicolas Sarkozy. | The open-ended rail strike is over planned changes to the pension system by President Nicolas Sarkozy. |
| Mr Sarkozy has vowed to press on with the reforms. | Mr Sarkozy has vowed to press on with the reforms. |
| The TGV network was targeted several hours after French Labour Minister Xavier Bertrand had said he hoped the talks with transport unions would help end their strike. | The TGV network was targeted several hours after French Labour Minister Xavier Bertrand had said he hoped the talks with transport unions would help end their strike. |
| 'SPECIAL' PENSIONS SYSTEM Benefits 1.6m workers, including 1.1m retireesApplies in 16 sectors, of which rail and utilities employees make up 360,000 peopleAccount for 6% of total state pension paymentsShortfall costs state 5bn euros (£3.5bn; $6.9bn) a yearSome workers can retire on full pensions aged 50Awarded to Paris Opera House workers in 1698 by Louis XIV Can street protests succeed? Solidarity amid French crisis | 'SPECIAL' PENSIONS SYSTEM Benefits 1.6m workers, including 1.1m retireesApplies in 16 sectors, of which rail and utilities employees make up 360,000 peopleAccount for 6% of total state pension paymentsShortfall costs state 5bn euros (£3.5bn; $6.9bn) a yearSome workers can retire on full pensions aged 50Awarded to Paris Opera House workers in 1698 by Louis XIV Can street protests succeed? Solidarity amid French crisis |
| "I think the conditions are there for everyone to get out of it honourably," he was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. | "I think the conditions are there for everyone to get out of it honourably," he was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. |
| President Sarkozy also urged the protesters to go back to work now that negotiations were beginning. | President Sarkozy also urged the protesters to go back to work now that negotiations were beginning. |
| "Everyone must ask whether it is right to continue a strike which has already cost users - and strikers - so dear. | "Everyone must ask whether it is right to continue a strike which has already cost users - and strikers - so dear. |
| "I think of those millions of French people who after a day of work have no bus, metro or train to take them home and who are tired of being used as hostages." | "I think of those millions of French people who after a day of work have no bus, metro or train to take them home and who are tired of being used as hostages." |
| The government has said there could be incentives of salary rises and a top-up scheme for pensions. | The government has said there could be incentives of salary rises and a top-up scheme for pensions. |
| But it has stressed that there will be no budging on the core issue of eliminating special pensions which allow 500,000 transport and utility workers to retire early. | But it has stressed that there will be no budging on the core issue of eliminating special pensions which allow 500,000 transport and utility workers to retire early. |
| Didier Le Rester of France's General Labour Confederation has predicted that the negotiations could last up to a month. | Didier Le Rester of France's General Labour Confederation has predicted that the negotiations could last up to a month. |
| Commuter havoc | Commuter havoc |
| Before the latest incidents, SNCF had estimated there would be slightly improved rail services on Wednesday as the number of strikers steadily declined. | Before the latest incidents, SNCF had estimated there would be slightly improved rail services on Wednesday as the number of strikers steadily declined. |
| Paris transport operator RATP said about 25% of its metro trains would be running. | Paris transport operator RATP said about 25% of its metro trains would be running. |
| The week of strikes has caused havoc for millions of commuters across France. | The week of strikes has caused havoc for millions of commuters across France. |
| Businesses have started complaining that the strikes are hurting their operations. | Businesses have started complaining that the strikes are hurting their operations. |
| Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said the dispute was costing France up to 400m euros (£290m) a day. | Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said the dispute was costing France up to 400m euros (£290m) a day. |
| On Tuesday, hundreds of thousands of civil servants joined striking transport and energy workers over what they say is an erosion in their earnings and proposals to slim France's large public sector. | On Tuesday, hundreds of thousands of civil servants joined striking transport and energy workers over what they say is an erosion in their earnings and proposals to slim France's large public sector. |
| But Mr Sarkozy said reforms were overdue and that they were necessary "to confront the challenges set by the world". | But Mr Sarkozy said reforms were overdue and that they were necessary "to confront the challenges set by the world". |
| "We will not surrender and we will not retreat," he said. | "We will not surrender and we will not retreat," he said. |
| Are you being affected by the strike, or are you taking part in it? Send us your comments on this story by filling out the form below. | Are you being affected by the strike, or are you taking part in it? Send us your comments on this story by filling out the form below. |