Sunday, 24 September, 2000, 10:48 GMT 11:48 UK Fuel protests spread to Australia

Protests over the high cost of fuel have spread to Australia, where truck drivers are blockading a number of oil refineries.

The action, which has so far not affected the Sydney Olympic Games, follows similar demonstrations in Europe, where several countries were brought to a standstill.

The hauliers are blockading refineries in Melbourne, in the state of Victoria, and say they hope the protest will spread nationwide.

The owner-drivers say many of them face being put out of business by the rising cost of petrol which has increased by around twenty-five percent since the beginning of the year. The BBC correspondent in Australia says regional analysts are concerned that the high oil prices could lead to social unrest in Asian cities and stall the region's economic recovery.

The demonstrations come as the IMF and World Bank are discussing the effect of high oil prices on world economic growth.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_939000/939949.stm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 24, 2000