Madrid  - A strike by a minority of haulage companies appeared to be losing force Friday in Spain as it went into its fifth day, radio reports said.

The deployment of 25,000 police officers with orders to act tough with violent pickets has helped traffic to move normally since Thursday.

Lorries escorted by police were bringing supplies to wholesale markets, though many of them were still running short on fresh fruit, vegetables and other foodstuffs.

Some violent acts were nevertheless reported, such as the burning of a lorry near Jaen in the south.

The strikers have refused to join an agreement reached by the government and most hauliers' associations on a package of measures to lessen the impact of rising fuel prices. (dpa)