Minister of Enterprise and Streamlining Vincent Van quickenborne of Belgium

bombing likely was a long time in planning.

Enterprise minister Vincent Van Quickenborne has expressed opposition to a proposed new EU measure which would exempt many small businesses from the need to publish annual accounts.

The issue was due to come up this week in the European Parliament, and Van Quickenborne said he would be encouraging Belgian MEPs to present a counter-proposal.

Belgian Economy Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said the rail action would spill over into traffic tailbacks as an estimated 1mn people take to the roads.

The strike, the biggest of its kind since 2004, is likely to cost the Belgian economy around 40mn euros ($62mn), Van Quickenborne has estimated.

militiamen in the refugee camps at Sabra and Shatila.