At least 500 taxi drivers have been on a strike for two days in Shantou City, south China's Guangdong province, in protest against unlicensed taxies.

From about 6 a.m. on Thursday, taxi drivers gathered on the square opposite to the city's government, and stopped their cabs before the television station and an exhibition center. On Thursday afternoon, most of them left.

On Friday morning, few taxis could been seen on the downtown streets. "All taxi drivers won't work today," a driver from the Nanxiang Taxi company told Xinhua.

At least 500 taxi drivers gathered on the square on Friday morning, asking the government to clamp down on unlicensed taxis and restore the market order.

The drivers said many private cars, tricycles and motorcycles were taking their business away, making their business harder than ever.

An official from the local publicity office said on Friday the city's top leaders would set up a meeting with the protesters and a six-month crackdown on unlicensed cabs would be carried across the city.

(Xinhua News Agency November 22, 2008)