TRADE UNIONS CALL FOR 48 HR STRIKE

Several prominent trade unions are set to carry out a 48-hour general strike beginning on 23 July 2009 despite a court ruling banning the protest action. The strike, which the unions called on public, private and informal sectors to join, is intended to show continued opposition to President Mamadou Tandja's efforts to extend his term through a 4 August constitutional referendum. The strike was announced on 22 July and organisers stated that they did not receive any official notification regarding the court's decree.