27/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - Petition calls for referendum on continuing EU accession negotiations. Around 36,000 Icelanders (roughly one voter in eight) have signed a petition calling for a referendum on their country continuing its accession negotiations with the EU. The petition (see http://www.thjod.is ) will be submitted to Iceland's parliament. The Icelandic government wants to stop these negotiations through a parliamentary vote - without first holding the referendum that was initially promised. Several demonstrations have been organised outside the Icelandic parliament to protest against this decision. On Monday one of the demonstrations brought 3,500 people together in Reykjavik - the biggest demonstration since those prompted by the financial crisis of 2008-2009. (CG)