30 July 2010 Last updated at 14:39 ET

Greek military mobilised to supply fuel amid strike

Strikers staged a protest outside the Greek parliament in Athens

Greece is to mobilise military vehicles to restore fuel supplies cut by a lorry drivers' strike, officials have said.

Army lorries and naval vessels will ensure the supply of fuel to "critical sectors", the government said after a crisis cabinet meeting.

Earlier, lorry drivers defied an emergency order from the government to end their strike.

The stoppage, now in its fifth day, has led to widespread fuel shortages and caused tourists to cancel holidays.

"The armed forces with their own means are already assuring the supply of critical sectors such as airports, electricity plants and hospitals," a government statement said.

"Navy landing craft will also contribute if necessary to cover the needs of islands by transporting tanker trucks."

Clashes

On Friday, baton-wielding riot police clashed with strikers outside an oil refinery in the city of Thessaloniki.

Analysis

Malcolm Brabant BBC News, Athens

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Union leaders wanted to test whether the government's tough talk was a bluff. Prime Minister George Papandreou has now demonstrated he is deadly serious.

In a country with fresh memories of the military dictatorship it is an enormously grave step to break a strike with the army.

Military experts here say the move is full of risks as it will aggravate those on the left who believe that Greece has already been taken over by the IMF and the EU.

But a senior government source told me there was no danger of this development increasing social unrest.

He said the lorry drivers were isolated and had no support. He said the Greek people oppose the hauliers' blockade and would support the government.

The strikers were trying to stop a truck from leaving the refinery, Reuters news agency reported.

"We exhausted every limit of good faith," said Transport Minister Dimitris Reppas following the cabinet meeting.

"The state is not unfortified and society is not defenceless," he added.

But strike leaders remained defiant.

"We will continue [the strike] in dynamic fashion," said George Tzortzatos, the head of the Greek truck-owners' confederation, following a union meeting.

The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says the strike has been the most serious challenge to the government during Greece's eight-month financial crisis.

The tourist industry - critical to Greece's economic survival - has been in despair and the strike has triggered countless cancellations, he says.

Hoteliers across the mainland have been worst hit, because they rely on holidaymakers driving to their destinations, he adds.

On Thursday, riot police clashed with protesters outside the transport ministry in Athens.

The rare emergency order signed by Prime Minister George Papandreou on Thursday meant drivers who refused to work could be arrested or lose their licences.

Talks between the two sides continued on Friday.

Lorry drivers are protesting against plans to cut licence charges - part of reforms to boost competition and one of the conditions of an International Monetary Fund bail-out.

Correspondents say road freight is one of the most closed professions in Greece with no new licences issued for nearly 40 years. Instead, licences are sold from person to person for hundreds of thousands of euros.

Greece has suffered waves of strikes and protests over austerity measures the government had to agree to in order to win the bail-out.

Comments from UK holiday-makers in Greece

The strike is making things very difficult here on Crete but not yet impossible. There are plenty of supplies in the shops and some petrol is getting through. On Saturday morning, we had a tip-off that a garage in Souda had had a fuel delivery. When we arrived, there was a queue of up to 40 cars. We waited for 30 minutes but then got a full tank which will see us through our holiday. When we left the garage, there was still a huge queue waiting. If we hadn't managed to get petrol, we would have tried to come home early. As it is, we've decided to stay put and save the petrol for the journey back to the airport. It's a shame and I feel disappointed. We came here to see the historical sites but instead we've decided to have a beach holiday and stay local to preserve fuel. There seems to be no problem with taxis, coaches and buses. This experience has definitely put me off holidaying in Greece in the future.

Peter, Worcester, staying in Crete

We arrived Thursday evening. When we got to the airport, we collected our hire car. The petrol gauge was already on empty and we were told there was a fuel shortage but that there should be enough to get us to our destination. Friday night, I was lucky enough to spot a garage that had just had a petrol delivery. I ran back to the hotel, got into the car and joined the chaos. There were about 70 cars queuing and I waited an hour to get petrol. Now that we have petrol, we're going to sit tight and make the best of things. Basically, we won't be doing any sight-seeing and will stay where we are. It has put me off future holidays here.

Peter, Swindon, staying in Rhodes

We are holidaying in Kefalonia for a week. When we landed on Tuesday and collected our hire cars, we were told that there was a petrol strike on. We have had to be careful with the half tank of fuel that we started with. Now we have had to curtail our plans to explore the island. Yesterday we had to take a taxi to the coast to go on our boat trip. We only have enough fuel to buy our groceries. Then we are dependent upon the strike lifting before Tuesday in order to get back to the airport.

David, staying in Kefalonia

I'm a single dad in Crete and I have taken my ten and eleven-year-olds away for the first time. It's chaos here, there's fighting on the forecourts. Also all our days out by coach have been cancelled and we can't even hire a car. Kids don't want to be stuck in the hotel all day.

Mike, staying in Crete

We're here in Preveza and can't get home because we can't get fuel for the camper van we're travelling in. We've been trying to arrange fuel for three days but with no success. We have five children with us and they are wanting to get home to see their friends.

Andreus, staying in Preveza