41.   On Wednesday, protesters marched near the presidential palace and staged transport strikes in seven cities in the southern Philippines.

42.   Other regions also were contracting private bus firms to circumvent the transport strike.

43.   Protests against a recent oil price increase swept the Philippines Friday with transport strikes crippling key cities.

44.   Regional governments across France also were hiring private bus companies to get around the transport strike.

45.   Such transport strikes occur frequently in Paris and the surrounding areas, with subway workers subject to frequent attacks.

46.   Still, transport strikes by Air France and ticket foulups have left many fans furious.

47.   The air transport strike could be the start of a spate of walkouts in Italy.

48.   The Socialists have won generally good marks so far for their performance, settling a potentially damaging transport strike quickly and moving ahead with privatization plans.

49.   The transport strikes were just the latest in a series of walkouts in recent weeks.

50.   The transport strikes were part of a larger job action by state employees pressing to get their voices heard on issues ranging from salary to retirement.