Greece grinding to a halt

As the Greek tanker diver's strike enters its second week drivers have been forced to wait for hours in the few filling stations that still have petrol. Despite intensive talks between the government and the federation of tanker drivers neither side has been able to come to an agreement. Drivers have demanded a rise of 13% in transport charges in order to deal with rising oil prices and other running costs.However, the government has insisted that the rise not exceed 5%.

The general secretary of the driver's federation, Angelos Falaris, stated in an interview with Skai TV that since there has been no promise on the part of the conservative, New Democracy government to increase payment the federation would meet once more to decide the future of the strike action.

The effects of fuel shortages are starting to be felt in many areas of Greek public life as perishable goods lay rotting in ports and ferries to some of the Greek islands have been cancelled. Hellenic Seaways announced that it was stopping its midday ferry to the islands in the Northern Sporades from Volos because of fuel shortages.

Traffic in Athens and other Greek cities has lightened as drivers find it harder and order to fill their tanks.

To add to traveller's woes taxi drivers carried out a 24 hours stoppage yesterday in order to demand a rise in fares and short haul pilots in the state - run Olympic airways went on a work to rule in order to renegotiate the term of their contract.