Government mulls extension for state of alert

The government has not yet taken a definitive decision on whether to extend the state of alert brought into effect to combat a wildcat strike by air traffic controllers on the eve of the Constitution Day holiday weekend, but there is a majority leaning toward a continuation of the current situation to prevent controllers from carrying out similar action during Christmas.

A final decision will be reached today after a report on the work-readiness of controllers carried out by the Public Works Ministry is studied. Early indications are that the document recommends keeping the state of alert in place.

Public Works Minister José Blanco on Monday said on the Cadena Ser radio network that "the instigators of the sabotage have yet to see the full consequences of the damage caused." The minister added he believed "the vast majority of controllers want to work and do their duty, but on many occasions they are coerced by a group that directs and coordinates them. The government will guarantee air services at Christmas and every day of the year."

Should the government elect to prolong the state of alert- under which the Ministry of Defense is responsible for the management of Spain's airspace and controllers are supervised by the military- José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero will call a Cabinet meeting this afternoon to lay out the conditions under which the status quo would be extended.

However, the Ministry of Defense would prefer to maintain military control of Spanish airspace, which has no time limit, but to see the state of alert come to an end.