France seeks to calm fuel fears

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PARIS, Oct 17: The French government sought Sunday to calm fears of nationwide petrol and aviation fuel shortages as strikes against pension reform began to bite two days ahead of another wave of mass protests. Officials tried to head off panic buying of petrol amid the ongoing strikes and protests that saw hundreds of thousands take to the streets for the latest day of action against President Nicolas Sarkozy's key reform on Saturday. Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau told Europe 1 radio that with 10 out of France's 12 oil refineries shut by strike action, panic buying had led to a 50 percent jump in petrol sales last week. — AFP