A sign warning of no fuel is displayed at a petrol station in Bansted, south London, yesterday. British drivers queued for fuel at some filling stations yesterday as fears grew that oil supplies might be disrupted, although retailers said there were no problems yet and urged customers not to panic. - REUTERS
PARIS, (Reuters):
EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS sought to head off protests over soaring fuel prices yesterday with more steps to help hard-hit businesses such as truckers and farmers, and appeals to oil-rich OPEC countries to open their taps.
Petrol retailers in Britain urged motorists to remain calm amid sporadic reports of 'sold out' signs at fuel stations and panic-buying prompted by media speculation about the danger of road blockades similar to crippling protests in 2000.
DEEPER CUTS IN THE COST DEMANDED
French President Jacques Chirac demanded deeper cuts in the cost of fuel at the pump from oil giants such as Total and BP, which are making bumper profits as world oil prices soar.
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin announced tax breaks of about 30 million euros for farmers a day after isolated protests in the north on Monday by farmers on bicycles and truck drivers rolling their vehicles along motorways at a snail's pace.
In Britain, itself a producer of North Sea oil, finance minister Gordon Brown renewed calls on the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries to boost output fast.
"Because this is, at root, a problem of demand outstripping supply, OPEC must respond at its meeting on September 19 to rising demand by raising production," he said.
Hauliers have threatened protests from today onwards in Britain if the government does not come to the rescue, a move reminiscent of crippling and at times violent road and refinery blockades in Britain, France and Belgium in 2000.
