The cardboard in the cab reads "Sorry! Service unavailable."

The cabbies' strike in the southern Chinese city of Sanya continued for the third day on Wednesday, even though local officials pledged to meet their demands.

Dozens of taxi drivers gathered in front of the city government building on Wednesday calling for the release of 28 people who had been detained by police for suspected violence during the strike.

The 28 reportedly attacked other taxi drivers who would not participate in the strike and smashed 15 cabs, said the local police bureau.

Police were maintaining order in front of the government building. The demonstration there was peaceful.

No taxis were in service in the city.

Hu Wenzhong, a local transport administration official, told Xinhua that the government and cab companies were working together to persuade drivers to get back to work.

Acting Mayor Wang Yong met with representatives of taxi companies and drivers on Tuesday afternoon for more than an hour. He offered an apology and pledged to improve the city's transport industry as well as create a favorable environment for licensed drivers.

The strike in Sanya broke out on Monday. Drivers demanded intervention on issues including high monthly taxi rental fees and competition from unlicensed cabs.

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2008)