Belgium on strike as EU leaders ready to open summit

BRUSSELS: Belgian rail workers launched a national strike late Sunday in protest at EU-ordered austerity just as European leaders were to gather for a Brussels summit on the debt crisis.

The first trains stopped turning around 9:00 pm (2000 GMT), travellers said on Twitter.

High-speed international Eurostar, Thalys and inter-city Belgian trains had warned passengers in advance it would be Tuesday mid-day before the network was functioning normally again.

Southern Charleroi airport - a key low-cost hub - was expected to be out of action Monday, but the main international runways at Brussels were due to be functional.

The Belgian government arranged fallback emergency access via a military airport for European Union leaders who needed private landings.

Staff working in the summit venue in uptown Brussels were warned they might have to appear before 5:30 am - for a 1400 GMT gathering - to escape picket lines. (AFP)