Cold wave batters Europe

Snowstorms and subfreezing temperatures have battered Europe,killing 29 people in Poland on the last weekend before Christmas.

Eurostar trains through the Channel Tunnel werent running Sunday as officials tried to pinpoint the problem that led four trains to come to a halt in the tunnel linking England and France,leaving passengers stranded for hours Saturday. The Eurostar shutdown has stranded more than 50,000 passengers in France and Britain over the past two days.

Frances civil aviation authority ordered the cancellation of 40 per cent of flights out of Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports Sunday. A similar situation was seen at airports in Belgium,Amsterdam and western Germany. Manchester Airport,resumed after its only runway was briefly closed for snow clearance.