Mass strike in Uruguay

MONTEVIDEO // A number of players in Uruguay's domestic league have gone on strike over unpaid wages and bonuses, forcing midweek games to be called off. "The clubs are being given until Friday afternoon to pay the debt," players' union president Enrique Saravia said in a radio interview. "If it's paid the championship will restart at the weekend." The 2008-09 championship has already been suspended twice because of crowd violence and security problems.

Uruguayan media said Naci-onal, one of the country's biggest clubs, owed around US$160,000 (Dh587,700) to their players and arch-rivals Penarol owed around $50,000. Villa Espanola were barred from playing in the second stage of the championship, which started 10 days ago, because they owed around $50,000. * Reuters