PARIS, November 6: In the French truckers strike's first violence, two strikers were injured near the northern city of Lille when a car rammed into their roadblock. The two were hospitalized with bone fractures.

President Jacques Chirac made it known he was following the strike closely, and expressed concern for freedom of movement on French roads particularly that of truckers from other European countries. Prime minister Lionel Jospin, eager to end the first major labor crisis said he was introducing a law that would strengthen truckers' rights.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.