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Italy hit by transport shutdown Italy hit by transport shutdown
(about 10 hours later)
Italian transport unions are striking for eight hours in protest at plans to cut government spending on transport. Italian transport unions have held an eight-hour strike against government plans to cut transport spending.
Most train, air, sea ferry and bus services are affected by the strike and millions of Italians are expected to walk to work or take the day off. Most train, air, sea ferry and bus services were hit by the strike and millions of Italians endured disruption to their commute or took the day off.
The transport closures are the most extensive seen in Italy in recent years, according to the BBC's Rome correspondent David Willey. The transport closures were the most extensive seen in Italy in recent years, according to the BBC's Rome correspondent David Willey.
Rome is experiencing additional chaos because of a strike by taxi drivers. However, Rome's taxi drivers went back to work after a two-day strike.
The drivers are protesting against a decision by Rome's city council to issue some 500 new taxi licences. The drivers had blocked streets in central Rome in protest at a decision by the city council to issue some 500 new taxi licences.
The authorities say the move will address growing demand for taxis but the drivers argue it will threaten their livelihoods. The authorities said the move would address growing demand for taxis but the drivers had argued it would threaten their livelihoods.
Taxi drivers refused to pick up passengers at Rome's main transport terminals on Thursday and hundreds of their vehicles were parked illegally in the city centre, disrupting traffic. According to the AP news agency, the drivers' unions ended their strike late on Thursday after the city council said it would hold further talks with the unions on when and how the new licenses would be issued.
Talks failureTalks failure
The broader transport strike is being called in protest at the government's plans to cut funding for transport in the 2008 budget. The broader transport strike was called in protest at the government's plans to cut funding for transport in the 2008 budget.
Unions are also protesting over plans to sell the loss-making state airline, Alitalia. Unions were also protesting over plans to sell the loss-making state airline, Alitalia.
Flights in and out of Italy were disrupted during the day.
The strike was announced late on Wednesday after the collapse of talks with the government.The strike was announced late on Wednesday after the collapse of talks with the government.
The negotiations "did not produce a solution to public transport problems", transport union chief Claudio Claudiani said, in a statement quoted by Reuters news agency.The negotiations "did not produce a solution to public transport problems", transport union chief Claudio Claudiani said, in a statement quoted by Reuters news agency.