US taxi drivers back at work after strike sparked by driver's arrest

US taxi drivers are once again picking up passengers at Newark Liberty International Airport after staging a five-hour shutdown to protest against the arrest of a fellow cabbie.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesman Steve Coleman said his agency used buses to transport incoming passengers to area train stations to help them get to their destinations.

Mr Coleman said the protest followed the arrest of cabbie Ahmed Deraz.

He said Jersey City Police Lieutenant Pietro Veltre was in uniform driving his personal vehicle and claims Mr Deraz cut him off on the Pulaski Skyway and drove in a reckless manner.

Mr Veltre followed Mr Deraz to the cab staging area near the airport, where an argument ensued. Port Authority Police were called and arrested Mr Deraz.

The protest broke up following Mr Deraz’s release from custody.

Newark Liberty is one of the nation’s busiest airports, handling about 33 million passengers annually.