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Kazakhstan: Miners Vow to Prolong Strike

ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Coal miners in north Kazakhstan vowed to continue a four-day-old strike Monday as a government rescue package for the industry failed to meet their key demand that wage arrears be paid in full.


Deputy Coal Minister Yertesbai Aliyev told reporters a draft resolution supporting the coal sector had been agreed on at talks among prime minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin, coal enterprise managers, officials and members of parliament.


But miners' leader Vyacheslav Sidorov said his members were unimpressed and the strike would continue.


"A government resolution is all well and good, but until we receive our money the strike will continue," Sidorov said by telephone from the northern city of Karaganda.


Sidorov said 20 out of 23 pits around Karaganda were still idle.

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