Italian Drivers Agree To End Truck Strike

ROME — Italy's truck drivers agreed yesterday to call off a protest that has blocked highways and borders for three days, causing shortages of gasoline, medicine, and perishable foods across Italy, government officials said. "We expect that over the coming hours the situation can go back to normal," Cabinet Undersecretary Enrico Letta said after talks with union representatives.

At least two unions said they would ask workers to immediately end the protest, according to Italian news reports. The ANSA news agency reported that blockades in several regions were being dismantled, with a few scattered ones remaining.

But farmers associations and other groups said it would take days before stocks would be fully restored across Italy.

The strike by thousands of drivers idled factories and left many gasoline pumps dry. The pumps that still operated drew long lines of cars and scooters.

Many supermarket shelves emptied; perishable goods ran out, and new stocks went undelivered.