TRUCKERS SUSPEND BLOCKADES

ROME, OCTOBER 22 /SRNA-Reuters/ - Truckers' protests in southern Italy eased significantly today after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government approved financial aid and adopted a tougher stance on blockades.

The Italian government today approved an additional 106 million euros in aid for truckers affected by high fuel prices, on top of the previously offered 434 million euros. A further 60 million euros was allocated to farmers and 10 million euros to the fishing sector.

Transport operators have been blocking roads since last week to protest high fuel prices and demand assistance to bring them down. However, their representatives announced today that the blockades in Sicily would be lifted following talks with the authorities.

Vincenzo Parisi, a representative of transport operators in the Campania region around Naples, said that truckers in Calabria had also suspended their protest.

"I want to thank the associations that chose dialogue and ended the shortages and demonstrations. This is an act of responsibility," Meloni said on social media.