PARIS (AP).- The Louvre Museum and the royal palace
at Versailles were closed Thursday because of a French museum workers’ strike
that appears to be gathering steam. Frustrated tourists gathered
outside the landmark pyramid in the courtyard of the Louvre, blocked off by
workers. They are protesting government plans not to replace half of retiring
public servants, which will affect the country’s national museums. The
strike began at the Pompidou Center for Modern Art last month and workers at
other national museums joined in Wednesday.