Greek fuel-tanker driver talks break down

The five-day strike has sparked a midsummer crisis for Greece's government, which is facing fierce trade union opposition as it pushes through unpopular cost-cutting reforms.

Strikers' trade union leader Giorgos Tzortzatos said that the government had failed to address the protesters' key demands at an hour-long meeting with Transport Ministry officials.

"The government is responsible for this strike, not us," Mr Tzortzatos said.

"The strike continues uninterrupted. They should have been ready to listen to our demands."

The government has not ruled out ordering civil mobilisation - using state employees as replacements - to get petrol supplies moving, but has shied away from the provocative tactic so far.

"We will do whatever is necessary to make sure that that market is adequately supplied," Transport Minister Dimitris Reppas told state television.

Drivers are protesting against changes in licensing rules that have been imposed as a condition for rescue loans from European countries and the International Monetary Fund.

IMF and European enforcers are in Athens to inspect the cuts that have already seen pensions and civil servants' servants salaries slashed, along with welfare system changes.

The inspection is a condition of the second installment of loans worth up to £120 billion from the IMF and the 15 other EU countries using the euro.

The government claims that its budget-reduction targets are on target, but Greek hoteliers and tour operators say bookings have been hit hard by demonstrations and strikes, including recent port strikes, a work-to-rule by air traffic controllers and the current fuel strike.