Three men have been condemned to suspended jail terms after admitting their involvement in incidents outside the Auberge de Castille during the bus drivers' strike in July 2008.

Paul Vella, 48 of Gharghur, Jason Vella, 35 of Hamrun and Johann Spiteri, 28 of Birkirkara, were accused of having formed part of a group with intent to commit a crime and with having disobeyed police orders.

Johann Spiteri was also accused of slightly injuring a policeman.

The accused pleaded guilty to the charges.

Paul and Jason Vella were condemned to 18 months imprisonment suspended for three years and fined €400 each.

Johann Spiteri was condemned to 20 months imprisonment suspended for three years and also fined €400.

The incidents took place during a strike by the drivers of buses, coaches, mini-buses and taxis to protest over public transport reforms.

A large number of bus, taxi and mini-van drivers rushed up Ġlormu Cassar Avenue after the police ordered them to remove vehicles blocking the road around the War Memorial in Floriana.

A number of drivers charged up the steps of Castille, trampling over policemen and slamming their fists on the closed door, while shouting obscenities at the government, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and his family.

Although the police were quick to drive up to the Prime Minister's Office, they were outnumbered by the drivers, who charged through a small number of policemen to get to the main door. Three busloads of policemen, including Police Commissioner John Rizzo, arrived shortly afterwards but it took around two hours for Mr Rizzo to convince the drivers to move away.