Milan.Italian auto giant Fiat's factories ground to a halt yesterday as a result of nationwide strike action launched by truck drivers against a new government tax that has increased fuel prices. The factories of Pomigliano, Cassino, Melfi, Mirafiori and Sevel Val di Sangro "stopped this morning and will remain shut this afternoon due to a lack of components caused by the truck strike," a Fiat spokesman said.

The spokesman could not say when work in the factories could resume. The truck drivers' strike, which was launched in the night between Sunday and Monday by the Trasportounito union and was inspired by protests that paralysed Sicily last week, has caused major disruptions across Italy.

Truck drivers were blocking traffic at several motorway toll booths, even though police cleared one blockade near Naples earlier yesterday. "There needs to be a solution that gives hope to the workers. They do an exhausting job and they are undercut by truck drivers from other countries," said Raffaele Bonanni, leader of the Cisl trade union. (AFP)

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