11.   Only small numbers of employees abandoned the walkout, which was called to protest a planned merger of two major commercial banks that workers fear will cause layoffs.

12.   Rare mass rally called to protest falling living standards.

13.   Acehnese cities resembled ghost towns on Thursday, the second day of a general strike called to protest military atrocities in the turbulent province.

14.   Acehnese cities resembled ghost towns Thursday, the second day of a general strike called to protest military atrocities in the turbulent province.

15.   Ajmal Dahlvi, an MQM spokesman, said the strike was called to protest the arrests and alleged killings of MQM activists while in police custody.

16.   Also, nationwide demonstrations called to protest the acquittals mostly fizzled and there were no reports of violence as some feared.

17.   An accompanying nationwide strike called to protest the deteriorating economy was partially observed.

18.   Beefed-up police units stood watch in the center of the Croatian capital on Friday to guard against unrest at a rare mass rally called to protest falling living standards.

19.   Cassandra said the transport strikes were also being called to protest the current crisis in the airline industry.

20.   Democratic Party state chairman Bob Poe later called to protest her actions, but Poe did not request the same opportunity to correct applications for Democrats, she said.