Nicosia taxi drivers have announced that on Tuesday they will launch weekly protests until they are no longer targeted by authorities for crossing to the north, a move which could see traffic chaos in the capital with possible blockage of main roads during rush hour.

The professional group said they would start their protest at 6.30 am on Tuesday without providing further information.

Head of the urban Nicosia taxi drivers’ association, Panayiotis Kylilis, told state broadcaster CyBC on Monday that the reason for the protests is not so that they be allowed to obtain fuel in the north but so that they are no longer targeted by authorities on this matter.

He said customs officers at crossing points target only taxi drivers intending to cross to the north and prevent them from filling their tanks. This, he said, indirectly promotes piracy since others who illegally offer taxi services, can go to the north undisturbed and get cheaper fuel, thus offer cheaper fares. Kylilis said this was unfair competition for legal taxi drivers. “If that’s the case, we should all become pirates so that no one can disturb us,” he added.

According to Kylilis, if taxi drivers are not allowed to cross to fill their tanks, then no one should. “The law is for everyone, not just for taxi drivers,” he added.

“We want the implementation of the green line regulation to be applied to anyone,” he said.

The taxi drivers caused traffic chaos last Tuesday when they blocked the roundabout outside the presidential palace before moving to the Ayios Dhometios crossing point.

The protests were sparked after a driver who was due to cross to the north some two weeks ago was told by customs,they would check the vehicle’s fuel gauge to make sure he did not attempt to fill it with fuel.

Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said they would take measures to protect professional taxi drivers from those offering such services illegally with law amendments. He also said his ministry would review the taxi fares, that now are based on 2008 prices, so that they are not forced to fill their tanks in the north.

The taxi drivers said they would launch as of Tuesday weekly mobilisations “until a resolution – apology for being tarnished for defending the freedom of the rights of every law-abiding citizen.”