Fishermen blockade frontier

Gibraltar - Tension rose at Gibraltar's frontier with Spain yesterday as several hundred Spanish fishermen blocked land access…

Gibraltar - Tension rose at Gibraltar's frontier with Spain yesterday as several hundred Spanish fishermen blocked land access to the tiny British colony in protest at restrictions on fishing. More than a hundred cars and tourist buses were lined up at the Gibraltar side of the border post, and a large crowd of pedestrians gathered, with many people hurling insults at the fishermen.

The fishermen mounted the blockade early yesterday, accusing the Gibraltar authorities of harassment after police patrols intercepted fishing boats overnight, forcing them to return to port.

Flanked by the local representatives of several political parties, the protesters barred any persons or vehicles from entering Gibraltar, and let only Spanish nationals leave it on foot. There was no incident by late afternoon.