Two attempts at mediation in the public transport dispute have failed, Transport Minister Austin Gatt told a press conference this afternoon. The attempts were made by different third parties but he did not give details.

He said that although he wrote to Transport Federation president Victor Spiteri twice today, he had received no reply.

Dr Gatt condemned incidents which led to the government's bus emergency service to be stopped at 7.30 a.m., just 90 minutes after it started. He said the decision was taken in the interests of public safety after incidents which saw a van's windscreen smashed and people intimidated.

Dr Gatt said traffic flow throughout Malta was better today than yesterday, with the worst time having been during the morning rush hour, when part of St Anne Street, Floriana, was closed. One lane of St Anne Street is now open. He said the police had also cleared the roads to enable black taxis to operate from the seaport and the airport.

Dr Gatt said he was hopeful that arrangements could be made tomorrow for funerals to take place from Mater Dei Hospital, and he condemned the Hearses Association for not providing an emergency service.