Truckers strike for third day in Shanghai

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SHANGHAI: Truck drivers picketed at Shanghai port facilities over rising fuel costs for a third day on Friday, prompting a heavy police response to restore calm at strike locations.

The strikes this week by hundreds of drivers at shipping sites in Shanghai, China's largest port and the world's busiest container port, underline official concerns over the potential for spiralling inflation to spark unrest.

Police have been dispatched to several port sites in the city since Wednesday, when drivers first gathered to call for higher freight rates to offset hikes in diesel prices.

Protesters assembled again around the China International Marine Containers (CIMC) terminal in Shanghai's northern Baoshan district on Friday morning, a participant said.

"It's chaotic here now. Policemen are coming with police cars ... they tried to disperse the people," the man said on condition of anonymity at mid-morning.

It was not immediately clear whether the actions were affecting cargo traffic out of Shanghai, although some North American logistics companies warned of possible delays earlier this week. (AFP)