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Morning News

European Fuel Crisis: Truckers Call Off Blockade of British Oil Refineries

Aired September 14, 2000 - 11:45 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: You all know about the fuel crisis, which continues across much of Europe. Today, the most serious problems appear to be in Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and Spain. In Britain, the situation is expected to get a lot better, though, now that truckers have called off their blockade of British oil refineries.

CNN's Nic Robertson joins us now from London with the very latest on the story.

Nic, what's going on?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Andria, that all began to change about 11 hours ago, when the first refinery, where six day ago, the protest began. They decided to let the fuel trucks out. They came out there. That was an indication to all the other disputes across Britain, and the fuel trucks began to come out.

Now the gas company here are saying that within about 48 hours, they think perhaps 20 percent of the fuel stations around the country could be refueled.

The prime minister here in Britain came out. He welcomed this move by the protesters. He, again, reiterated that he would not negotiate with them, and he pointed out how serious the situation had been and still was. Some hospitals are still in a critical condition. Some fire services also, and some schools, some buses also having problems around the country.

Now it still has widespread popular support here, and this is not a complete back down in any way by the truckers. They feel that they have got out of this situation with their moral high ground still in tact. Because they have the support of the people, they said, that they didn't want to bring more hurt, pain, suffering and hardship to the people of the country.

But what they have said is that they expect the government to do something in the next 60 days. They haven't indicated what their response would be, if the government doesn't make a move to cut those gas taxes. But very much, they've laid it down now for the government, 60 day, do something. That's the time we are giving you. That is essential what the truckers are saying to the British government right now -- Andria. HALL: But Nic, Prime Minister Tony Blair has already ruled out any short-term reduction on those fuel taxes, which of course, as you mentioned, is one of the demands of the protesters. Short-term? 60 days?

ROBERTSON: Well, those 60 day, interesting enough, coincide with a pre-budget in Britain. Now Tony Blair has said that the budget happens once a year. That is the forum for changing taxes within the country. The pre-budget is in November. That is just within that 60- day hurdle, if you will. The real budget comes in March. But that would be an opportunity for Tony Blair's ministers, perhaps, to give an indication that there may be some changes within the taxation on fuel.

So there is a little bit of wiggle room, if you will, but certainly no hard and fast indication and certainly, at this stage, absolutely no commitment from the government to meet the demands -- Andria.

HALL: Nic Robertson reporting live from London. Thank you, Nic, appreciate that.

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