Spain seeks powers to prevent air chaos over Christmas

15/12/10 06:04 CET

world news

| |

Spain’s government wants to extend its emergency powers into January to offset possible strikes by air traffic controllers over the Christmas holidays.

It must get parliamentary approval by the end of this week but the country’s main opposition PP has not yet decided to back the government.

Although unions have given no indication they are planning more strike action they remain angry over government plans to part privatise the state run airport authority.

Over a week ago strike action by controllers caused chaos and stranded thousands of passengers. The government fell back onto the use of emergency powers to bring in the military to help run air traffic towers while the controllers were eventually forced back to work.

More about: Airlines, Christmas, Spain

| |

Mali: Rebel groups agree to creation of Islamic state

Two Rebel groups have agreed to merge and create an independent Islamic state in Northern Mali. After seizing Azawad – an area larger than France – two months ago, the groups had initially disagreed, with the secular Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA)…