PARIS (Reuters):

Economy Minister Christine Lagarde urged French people yesterday to walk more and drive less, given the increase in oil prices.

"From time to time, you should forget your car to the benefit of your two legs and your two wheels," Lagarde told Le Parisien Daily in an interview.

"I'm appealing to French people's intelligence," she said, calling on compatriots to drive more slowly and to use public transport. "I'm ready to be an example," Lagarde said.

Oil surged 2.5 per cent on Friday, nearing a fresh peak as strong United States economic data reignited a rally that has added more than 40 per cent to prices since August. Oil prices hit more than US$96 per barrel earlier this week.

French professional groups hit by higher petrol prices have called on the government to help.

Fishermen at ports in western France have gone on strike to protest against the rising cost of fuel and demand state aid.

Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier said he would receive representatives from the fishing industry in Paris in coming days to talk about their concerns.

But the fishermen want Barnier to come to their region. They want a cut in duty on fuel and have dismissed a €25.5 million aid package announced by the government as insufficient.

"We want Michel Barnier to come to a port and meet representatives of the crisis committee with concrete proposals. Otherwise, the actions will accelerate," said Dominique Faou, a spokesman for the fishermen's committee.

Fishing firms say they had budgeted for diesel to cost some 30 euro cents a litre this year. But the price has jumped to 51 cents in recent days, meaning boat owners risk making a loss every time they go to sea.