PUBLIC TRANSPORT HALTED BY STRIKE

AMSTERDAM, SEPTEMBER 9 /SRNA/ - Public transport in the Netherlands was halted on Wednesday by a nationwide strike against government proposals to cut welfare spending, Reuters reported.

Almost no trains, buses or ferries operated throughout the country because of the 24-hour strike, which also affected international services to Belgium, Germany, France and Great Britain.

Labour unions organized the strike against government plans to cut up to 6.5 billion euros in annual welfare spending, mainly by limiting unemployment benefits, to fund a large increase in defense spending.