News In Brief

Strikes at Indian ports keep vital supplies at sea

Leaders of 300,000 striking dock workers, who have effectively closed Indian ports, said Sunday they may seek foreign help if the armed forces are used to bring essential supplies ashore.

About 140 ships were stranded at India's 10 major ports as the three-day old strike began to bite into India's dwindling stocks of petroleum products, industrial raw materials, and grain, shipping ministry sources said. Oil industry officials in Bombay said refineries there had about a week's supply of fuel left.

A government spokesman told Reuters the Navy may be used to help unload essential supplies if the strike continues to deplete stocks.