21.   Amid plunging public morale, government and union leaders continued talks Saturday on ways to end a crippling strike over austerity measures.

22.   As their crippling strike spilled over Wednesday into other parts of Europe, French truckers won one of their key demands and the government said a solution was near.

23.   Aznar has told diplomats that he does not want to take sudden drastic measures, to avoid crippling strikes and demonstrations like those that hit France last December.

24.   Aznar has told diplomats that he wants to avoid sudden, drastic measures to avoid crippling strikes and demonstrations like those that hit France in December.

25.   But he has assured diplomats he will not take sudden drastic measures to avoid crippling strikes like those that hit France in December.

26.   But he has assured diplomats he will not take sudden drastic measures, so as to avoid crippling strikes like those that hit France last December.

27.   But these measures have triggered crippling strikes in recent years.

28.   Car owners, mindful of a similar crippling strike a year ago, stocked up on gas and braced themselves for the coming traffic jams.

29.   Conditions are probably worst in France, which has been hit by crippling strikes.

30.   Despite a crippling strike by public transport workers, the center court was full at Roland Garros.