PARIS (AP) French taxi drivers on Thursday called a new protest for next week, the second phase of protests against government plans to boost competition in their sector.

Thousands of striking drivers led protests across France on Wednesday. A top labor union representing drivers said many felt scorned by the government. The new walkout will be held next Wednesday, drivers said.

“It's forcing us to extend our demonstrations in a harder form,” said Alain Estival, head of the national association of taxi drivers. He claimed 30,000 taxis were mobilized in the Jan. 30 demonstration.

A panel commissioned by President Nicolas Sarkozy to find ways to boost France's lackluster economy, sent him hundreds of proposals last week, one of which urged deregulating the taxi sector.

The drivers fear the government would scrap quotas limiting the number of taxi drivers, and could add up to 60,000 more onto France's streets and dilute earning power in the sector.
AP-CS-01-31-08 0939EST