Drivers in Turkish capital protest fee reduction

Minibus drivers protested reduction in transportation fees in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Monday.

An Ankara administrative court annulled the rise in transportation fees in Ankara, to be valid as of the beginning of 2005, in a lawsuit filed by the Consumer Rights' Association.

The court reduced the transportation fees from 1.85 to 0.9 Turkish liras (TL).

Minibus drivers in Ankara protested the court decision by not working from early in the morning to 10 a.m. on Monday.

There were long queues at bus stations as minibuses did not work, whereas traffic jam, accidents and discussions occurred as people drove their own vehicles on the first work day of the week.

Minibus drivers said gas prices had been on a continuous rise in the last five years, and it was not possible to serve people with fees, cut by half.

Some citizens said the court decision was positive and in favor of consumers, whereas some of them reacted to the protest saying they were late to work.


/World Bulletin/