One-day strike snarls Italian transit

ROME, July 23 (UPI) -- A one-day strike by Italian transport workers shut down buses and trains in many cities and halted ferry service in Venice.

Both subway lines in Rome stopped running Friday, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. In Palermo, the capital of Sicily, only half the buses were operating.

Venice was especially hard hit with tourists unable to get around.

Officials said intercity rail service was less affected with two-thirds of regional and long-distance trains running. In some cities, workers struck during the day, returned to work for the evening rush hour and then resumed the strike.

The Italian Transport Federation called the 24-hour job action, blaming the government for failing to negotiate a new contract.