Serbian miners' strike spreads

A strike at Serbia's largest coal mine, Kolubara, has spread to the country's second-biggest mine at nearby Kostolac.

The two mines supply coal to Serbia's main power stations and employ more than 10,000 workers.

The Kolubara miners began their strike yesterday after talks with government ministers failed to result in an agreement on salary demands, despite increases in production.

A decision last year by the Kolubara miners to down tools until the former Yugoslav president, Slobodan Milosevic, recognised election results was widely seen as a pivotal moment in his final downfall.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service