Greek Truckers’ Strike Raises Fear of Fuel Shortages

VOA News
September 13, 2010 at 10:40 pm

Greek truck drivers have begun a new strike to protest government plans to liberalize their sector as part of the measures aimed at reviving the sluggish economy.

Hundreds of trucks lined the roads outside Athens Monday as police prevented them from entering the city.

Motorists have formed long lines at gas stations in the past few days amid fears of fuel shortages. After a week-long protest involving truckers in July, gas stations ran out of fuel during the busy tourist season.

The strike follows a massive anti-government protest Saturday in the country’s second largest city, Thessaloniki.

International auditors arrived in Athens Monday to review government efforts to cut spending in return for a $140 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund and European Union.

The Greek government agreed to the controversial austerity measures in May, sparking a series of massive protests.

Prime Minister George Papandreou has said Greece is on track to reduce its deficit by nearly 40 percent this year, and says no new austerity measures are needed to reach that goal.