Alitalia

No serious injuries were reported in the scuffles on Tuesday that took place as Alitalia negotiators met with unions to seek backing for the takeover. The deal, announced Sunday, requires the approval of parliament and all nine airline labor unions.

Aero-news.net reported that Italian carrier Alitalia canceled 217 domestic and international flights before a four-hour walkout by pilots, flight crew and ground staff beginning at 11 am. Air One, Italy's number two carrier, only guaranteed nine flights there.

Iht.com reported that Italy's national carrier Alitalia alone cancelled 394 flights today because of the 10am to 6pm strike.

Alitalia flight attendant unions are trying to keep up the pressure on the struggling national carrier over contract negotiations. Other international carriers also canceled flights because of the walkout by air traffic controllers.

The unions, having called off their own strikes, asked wildcat strikers to return to work while they negotiate with the government.

"We may get to that point, but we will try to avoid it because we know tragedies could happen," he said.

Berlusconi played down those comments, saying the existence of Alitalia was a matter of national pride for Italy.

Berlusconi said Alitalia had to push ahead with a restructuring plan and face down wildcat strikers who have paralysed the airline over the past week.

"We've been called in for a meeting with the government on Wednesday to discuss the Alitalia situation, so we've suspended the 24-hour strike due to start tonight at midnight,'' said Alberto Cassandra, a spokesman for Filt Cgil, the transport branch of Italy's largest union federation, in an interview.

Italy's main unions, meanwhile, met at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport to discuss whether to proceed with a threatened full-day strike starting Monday - the second in a week. Italian news agencies ANSA and Apcom said the walkout was cancelled pending the outcome of a meeting with the government scheduled for Wednesday.