Fuel cost protests spread and rattle governments

By Caroline Drees

LONDON (Reuters) - Protests against surging fuel prices which have triggered fears of political instability and a global economic downturn expanded in Europe and Asia on Monday, and Colombian truckers said they would join the wave of strikes.

Protests by truckers, fishermen and other groups particularly vulnerable to rising energy costs have swept across countries from Spain to India and South Korea in recent weeks.

Widening public anger has pushed oil prices to the top of the policy agenda in many states. A meeting of the world's richest nations warned at the weekend that soaring commodity prices may slice into growth, but failed to offer any plan to calm markets or quell mushrooming protests.

On Monday, French truckers began blocking roads in the latest protest to pressure the government to help them cope with oil prices that have more than doubled in a year.

The nationwide day of action announced by the main haulage associations included roadblocks and so-called "snail" operations by convoys of slow-moving trucks and is expected to disrupt traffic severely, especially on highways.

"It's not about punishing transport users, it's about sending a warning to the government," said Philippe Fournier, an official of Unostra, an association that mainly represents small haulage firms. "It has to accept its responsibilities."

In South Korea, construction workers joined striking truckers in the latest blow to new President Lee Myung-bak, who said inflationary pressures were creating the biggest global economic crisis in 30 years.

The workers are pushing for cheaper fuel and higher pay. Stepping up the pressure, the militant Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is due to announce on Tuesday the result of a vote by its more than 600,000 members on strike action.