The Azerbaijan State News Agency

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French strikes force petrol stations to shut

Baku, October 18 (AZERTAC). About 1,500 petrol stations in France have run dry or are about to close as fuel supplies are hit by strikes over government pension reforms, officials say, according to BBC News.

A blockade of oil refineries has lasted a week and the body that supplies most supermarkets says one in four petrol stations is affected.

President Nicolas Sarkozy has called a crisis cabinet to protect supplies.

He told reporters that the reforms were “essential” and would be carried out.

The exact number of France`s 12,000 petrol stations affected by the strikes is unclear, but oil company Exxon Mobil has described the situation as “critical”.

A spokeswoman said that anyone looking for diesel around Paris or in the western area of Nantes would face problems.

Severe shortages have been reported in Brittany in north-west France and the International Energy Agency says that France has begun tapping into its emergency oil reserves.

Workers at France`s 12 oil refineries have been on strike for a week and entrances to many of the country`s fuel distribution depots have been blocked.

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