Taxi drivers protest in front of Presidential House over fuel costs

Approximately 400 taxi drivers protested in front of the Presidential House in Tegucigalpa from 0900 to 1300 local time on 9 July 2008 to demand that the government help offset rising fuel prices. Although the protest was largely peaceful, the incident caused significant transportation disruptions in downtown Tegucigalpa. The taxi drivers are divided internally about whether the government should allow them to increase fares or provide subsidies. Similar demonstrations took place near government buildings in Puerto Cortes and Santa Rosa de Copa. Bus drivers have also demanded that the government raise fares. Transportation workers throughout Honduras have threatened to launch another nationwide strike if the government does not meet their demands; they have not specified a date for the planned action. Meanwhile, more than 8,000 teachers and university professors launched an indefinite nationwide strike on 9 July. The teachers are demanding that the Education Ministry pay overdue wages. In Tegucigalpa, hundreds of middle school teachers blocked Bulevar Fuerzas Armadas. There were no reports of violence.