UberX fires driver after altercation with Montreal taxi driver

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The popular ride-sharing serviceUberX has fired a driver who spat in the face of a taxi driver during a heated alteration on a downtown street.

The driver was let go after Montreal taxi driver Mouhcine El Meliani posted a video to YouTubedocumenting the altercationin front of a hotel on Sherbrooke Street West.

The altercation began when El Meliani offered his taxi services to a woman he saw exiting the hotel.

She declined, saying that she had already organized a ride.

El Meliani then noticed that her lift was from theUberX service and vowed to tape the scene and report it to the taxi bureau.

The UberX driver took exception to being taped and the two spent about two minutes arguing. Heis eventually seenspitting onto the camera.

"Thisbehaviour is totally unacceptable and the partner-drivers involved have been removed from the Uber platform," Uber spokesperson Jean-ChristopheDe Le Rue wrote in a statement.

"We regret that the taxi driver was abused in this way."

El Meliani saidhe has reported the incident to Montreal police.

"My goal is to stop these illegal drivers by giving their license plates to the taxi office," helatertold Radio-Canada.

Taxi drivers have repeatedly denounced the UberX service as unfair competition.

Their campaign hasbeen championed by several politicians, including Quebec Transport MinisterRobert Poeti and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre.