THOUSANDS OF TAXI DRIVERS MARCHED IN THE CENTRE OF ROME ON MONDAY IN A NEW PROTEST AGAINST PRIME MINISTER ROMANO PRODI'S PLANS TO DEREGULATE THE SERVICE SECTOR, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. THE LATEST STOPPAGE STRANDED PASSENGERS AT AIRPORTS AND CREATED TRAFFIC CHAOS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AS PROTESTING DRIVERS BLOCKED CITY-CENTRE LOCATIONS LIKE ROME'S PIAZZA VENEZIA WITH THEIR CABS AND THEN MARCHED TO A NEARBY SQUARE. DRIVERS ALSO STAGED PROTESTS IN OTHER BIG ITALIAN CITIES AS INDUSTRY MINISTER PIERLUIGI BERSANI AND TAXI DRIVERS' UNIONS BEGAN A NEW ROUND OF TALKS TO TRY TO FIND A COMPROMISE. TAXI DRIVERS ARE OUTRAGED AT PLANS TO THROW OPEN SERVICES SUCH AS TRANSPORT, LAW PRACTICES AND PHARMACIES TO COMPETITION. THEIR ON-AGAIN, OFF-AGAIN STRIKES BEGAN ON JULY 1, WREAKING HAVOC ON TRAFFIC IN ITALY'S MAIN CITIES.
