Stalemate amid Belgian fuel protests

BRUSSELS -- Belgian truckers protesting high fuel costs have blockaded key cities for a third day, vowing to stay put for weeks if the government refused to meet their demands.

In Brussels, the Metro rail system responded with more frequent services and longer trains to accommodate the increase in passengers.

Some 300 trucks, mainly large tractor trailers, blocked key roads leading to the city's historic centre on Tuesday. There were also blockades in the southern cities of Charleroi and Nivelles.

Outside the cities, sporadic roadblocks brought traffic to a standstill on motorways in various parts of both the northern Flanders and southern Wallonia regions.

But there were no reports of trouble and the government continued a hands-off policy toward the blockades.

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Talks between unions leaders representing bus, taxi, and truck drivers and government officials that had begun in the afternoon continued on into the evening.

The government's core cabinet was due to meet on Wednesday morning to prepare recommendations to present to the full cabinet on Friday.

"The situation is becoming very urgent," said Fred Evers, president of the Federation of Belgian Transporters.

Leaders of the Professional Union for Road Transport (UPTR), responsible for the blockade in Brussels, left the meeting with the government soon after it began, without comment.

Four petroleum storage depots in Feluy, Orcq, Tertre and near Liege, which supply petrol to Luxembourg as well as Belgium, also remained blockaded.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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