PARIS, May 17 (Xinhua) -- French fishermen kept up their blockade at ports along France's western coast on Saturday, in protest at the rising cost of diesel fuel, while port workers went on their strikes.

    Fishermen's blockades, according to media reports here, have been spread to several new ports, including La Turballe and Le Croisic, from the port of La Rochelle, which was sealed off by fishermen on Thursday.

    The fishermen said the blockades would last until Wednesday. They are demanding the government help them to cope with the claiming cost of diesel fuel that has reached 70 euro cents per liter, up from 40 cents in November 2007.

    Meanwhile, local port workers' union said Saturday that the container port at Le Havre, France's second-biggest after Marseille, was shut down since Saturday afternoon until at least Sunday afternoon. The union has called for fresh strikes on Tuesday and Thursday.

    Since April this year, major ports in France have been disrupted by strikes of port workers, who are angry at plans to privatize some heavy machinery operations.