Spanish air traffic controllers walk out, military take over

SPAIN (Agencies) Air traffic controllers at the major Spanish airports held a wildcat strike yesterday, when they called in sick en masse. The government ordered the military to take over the air space in the evening.The latest news is that an emeregency cabinet meeting is taking place as we write (El País); 50% of the controllers turned for work this morning but are not working (RTVE); there is utter chaos at all the country's main airports as some 300,000 travellers are left stranded at the beginning of the longest weekend of the year (El Mundo); the government has warned that unannounced strikes in 'strategic spheres' is illegal and can mean jail time (RTVE); the government hints strongly at the possibility of announcing 'state of alarm'.