Tuesday taxi strike 'extremely disruptive', say drivers

Taxi drivers in Brussels say Tuesday's strike action will be "tough and extremely disruptive" - with up to 1,000 cars expected to be involved.

The protest begins at 5.00 and will be consist of go-slow convoys and filters at busy road junctions. Temporary road blocks are possible on the Brussels Ring slip roads, Schuman roundabout and towards the airport.

Taxi drivers are also planning a strong presence at South Station - to prevent Uber drivers from capitalising on the strike action.

A demontration is planned in the afternoon, setting off from North Station at 13.30. The procession will pass Botanique, Boulevard Pachéco and the cathedral before heading up to Madou, the EU district and finishing outside the Schuman entrance to Cinquantenaire park.

The head of the MR group in the Brussels parliament, Vincent De Wolf, had urged Brussels minister-president Rudi Vervoort to sign a regional decree to limit the traffic disruption and prevent the city being paralysed.

"The right to demonstrate is not absolute," he said. "Limits should be set to maintain public order and ensure respect for other people's freedoms."