On Monday night a meeting of the Queen's
unelected Privy Council at her Balmoral
residence in Scotland empowered the government
to use troops if necessary to break up
demonstrations, and approved an order that
would require oil companies to ensure
distribution of fuel across the country and
maintain supplies to the emergency services
and schools.

. . .

The situation is Britain is by far the most
developed. After four full days of blockades
on oil depots and refineries, over 3,000 petrol
stations have closed. Wales has completely run
out of fuel and it is believed there will be
none in the country within another 48 hours.
Fishermen, whose fuel bills now account for up
to 50 per cent of their costs, have joined
hauliers and farmers in their action.

WSWS

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), September 13, 2000