Striking Louvre workers block museum entrance

Striking security guards on Thursday threw up picket lines, blocking the entrance to the Louvre and forcing the museum to close, officials said in a statement.

Striking security guards on Thursday threw up picket lines, blocking the entrance to the Louvre and forcing the museum to close, officials said in a statement.

Some 16,000 visitors visit the Louvre daily at this time of the year. It is the world's largest museum and ranks among the top tourist attractions in Paris.

The guards called the strike in support of museum cafeteria workers who had been off the job for the past four weeks demanding wage hikes. The strike went ahead despite an agreement between the cafeteria workers and management late Wednesday.

Meetings with museum officials were scheduled for later Thursday. Museum spokesman Christophe Monin said it was not clear how long the museum would be shut.