Athens  - Petrol pumps across Greece dried up on Monday as fuel truck drivers continued their week-long strike in an effort to press for higher distribution fees.

Thousands of Greeks could be seen queuing outside the rare petrol station which still had fuel across the Greek capital.

Reports said more than 80 per cent of stations across the country had run out of petrol.

Transport sector drivers are seeking increases in state regulated charges to offset increases arising from soaring petrol prices.

Truck drivers, including those transporting fuel and food supplies, have asked for a 13-per-cent rise in distribution charges, while the government has agreed to a
5-per-cent hike.

"We have demanded an increase of 13 per cent," Giorgos Tsavos, the fuel truck union president was quoted by Greek daily Kathimerini as saying.

"We have no other way to fight, if we want to save our businesses, other than this strike."

The government has said it cannot meet the truck drivers' demands.

Petrol-station owners who were still supplied with petrol on Monday had reportedly upped prices by as much as 35 per cent to take advantage of the high demand while press reports said there were cases of stranded drivers stealing gasoline from parked vehicles.

The protest has also had an impact on food supplies as fruit producers, mainly from the southern Mediterranean island of Crete, were unable to transport their goods.

Meanwhile, more than 30,000 taxi drivers in the Greek capital began a 24-hour strike on Monday to demand an increase in fares to offset rising petrol prices. (dpa)