Riot police use tear gas to break up blockade by striking Acropolis staff

Up to 100 Culture Ministry workers shut down the country's most famous ancient site on Wednesday complaining they were owed up to 22 months back pay.

They barricaded themselves inside, padlocked the entrance gates and refused to allow any tourists in until their demands were met.

Police in riot gear went in yesterday after a court said the protesters were hindering access to the ancient site.

"Riot police and violence won't break the strike," the protesters chanted, clinging to the entrance gates.

But police broke in through a side entrance then used pepper spray to clear the protesters from the main gate.

Dozens of bemused tourists who had arrived to visit the site looked on as the stand-off unfolded.

"We know the workers have a right to protest, but it is not fair that people who come from all over the world to see the Acropolis should be prevented from getting in," said Spanish tourist Ainhoa Garcia shortly before the clashes broke out.

Greece is in the middle of a tough austerity programme which has cut public workers' salaries and trimmed pensions in an effort to pull the country out of a severe debt crisis. The austerity plan has led to a series of strikes and demonstrations.

Meanwhile, in France, ongoing strikes over retirement reform plans disrupted train travel and raised concerns about a possible fuel shortage.

Paris public transport was closer to normal as most bus and subway drivers returned to work. But staff from the SNCF national rail authority stayed out, and strikers continued blocking oil refineries.