Finland's state mediator has put forward a proposal to end the stevedore strike that has brought the country's trade to a standstill.

      Stevedores and port operators will discuss it today, after the strike entered its third week yesterday.

      The Finnish Port Operators'Association said: "Negotiations at the national conciliator's office continued untll 3am [today] between   representatives of the central organisations EK [Confederation of Finnish Industries] and SAK [Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions]."