	petrobras asks army to withdraw troops brazil s state oil company petrobras has asked the army to withdraw the troops which were occupying its oil installations since tuesday petrobras said in a statement the statement said the request for the withdrawal of the troops was made because of the calmness reigning in all of its refineries the request was also due to the end of the seamen s strike and the willingness of the oil industry workers to sit again by the negotiating table the statement said even though the petrobras statement said the seamen s strike was over a union spokesman said only two small shipping companies had reached a pay agreement the overwhelming majority of brazil s seamen remained on strike the statement said a meeting between petrobras and oil industry leaders was set for next wednesday in rio with the presence of labour minister almir pazzionotto as a mediator petrobras said the request for the withdrawal of the troops was made at local hours gmt but a company spokesman said he did not know if the troops had already been removed reuter 
