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Germans blamed in block
Page 6
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LAST WEEK'S protest blockades against Austria's controversial transit tax may have been organised by West German operators.
It had been thought earlier that Austrian drivers employed by small firms were responsible for the hold-ups which closed the country's main border crossings, especially the Brenner Pass route to Italy and the Klingenbach border with Hungary.
Now it appears that West German firms sent telex messages to their drivers telling them to organise the protest. A British Embassy spokesman in Vienna was unable to substantiate this report when CM spoke to him.
There were still delays at the Austrian borders this week, but the only border route still blocked was the Italian route at Thoerlmaglern.
Austrian government officials have agreed to speak with road haulage firms affected by the transit tax, but it is not yet certain whether or not they will give any ground.
Hungary also has reacted against the Austrian move by applying a 25 Groschen (0.9p) levy upon Austrian lorries entering its territory. It is expected that this will have a serious effect upon Austrian trade as Hungarian traffic accounts for 1,500 journeys each year.