Athenians going nowhere - thanks to protesting transport workers

Transport workers in Athens walked off the job for several hours yesterday in protest at planned public sector reforms, continuing a series of strikes that have plagued the city.

Hundreds of them rode on scooters and motorbikes towards the transport ministry in a motorised demonstration. The metro system, trams, trolleys and buses all stopped operating.

The workers have been protesting about a public transport shake-up that is part of the cost-cutting reforms Greece is implementing in return for a ?€110 billion package of bailout loans from the International Monetary Fund and European Union countries that use the euro.

European and IMF debt inspectors told Greece yesterday to privatise €50bn in state assets and push through a punishing overhaul of government-run institutions.

"Now we are in the second phase, having successfully pulled the economy back from the abyss," International Monetary Fund inspector Poul Thomsen said, concluding a two-week inspection.

Citing progress made so far, the inspectors backed the payout of a ?€15bn instalment next month.x