Amsterdam - ABN Amro personnel have demanded that the bank continue as an independent entity, Joop Hofland of the De Unie worker's union said on Dutch television on Tuesday.

"The call among ABN Amro employees to continue as an independent bank is very strong," Hofland said.

The Netherlands' two biggest workers unions, FNV Bondgenoten and CNV, recommended a delay of the sale of ABN Amro on Tuesday until the markets regain some stability.

De Unie's Hofland in contrast called for a quick solution for ABN Amro, the Dutch consumer banking division of troubled Belgian-Dutch financial giant Fortis.

As part of a bail-out agreement on Sunday, Fortis is to sell the Dutch bank.

In October 2007, Fortis paid 24 billion euros for its share of a joint takeover along with Royal Bank of Scotland and Banco Santander paid of ABN Amro, then the biggest bank in the Netherlands.

Under the 2007 takeover agreement by Fortis, the consumer banking division of ANB Amro was to operate autonomously until late 2009. ABN Amro's asset management division has already been fully integrated into Fortis and will not be sold. (dpa)