Tanker drivers fuel austerity protests

The International Monetary Fund has started inspecting Greece's public finances to make sure the government is implementing promised austerity measures before it gains access to a second rescue loan in mid-September. The inspectors arrived yesterday as strikes continued against the painful spending cuts and an overhaul of labour rules.

A walkout by fuel-tanker drivers caused supply shortages in Athens, while serious departure delays were reported at Athens Airport as air traffic controllers continued a work-to-rule protest which started last week.

Officials from the European Union and European Central Bank are also taking part in the inspections in Athens and are due to remain until August 6.

Debt-ridden Greece narrowly avoided bankruptcy in May and was pledged up to 110 billion euro (92bn) in rescue loans from the IMF and the 15 other EU countries using the euro.

While in Athens, the inspectors will attempt to clean up the dubious accounting practices that helped trigger the country's crisis by hiding massive debts and losses in state industries.