Saboteurs Attack French Rail Network

Saboteurs attacked France's high-speed rail services this morning, which is already suffering an 8-day transport union strike.

The attacks happened shortly before 6am with arsonists damaging more than 18 miles of track by burning cabling on the eastern TGV line.

French rail company SNCF has blamed militant strikers for the damage, writes Reuters.

This is the second time in a month rail workers have taken industrial action in response to planned government forms of pensions and employment schemes.

Meetings between the government, unions and rail management are due to resume today in an effort to end the strike which started on 14 November.

President Nicolas Sarkozy has vowed to press on with pension reforms regardless of the recent strike action.

By Felicity Crump