Athens- Farmers protesting falling commodity prices began lifting dozens of roadblocks across Greece on Thursday after accepting an emergency aid package by the government but hundreds others continued to block main border crossings.

In the past week and a half, thousands of farmers used their tractors to create more than 70 roadblocks along all the main highways across Greece.

Some farmers' unions in southern and central Greece began removing their tractors from main highways after accepting the package but other farmers at border crossings with Bulgaria and Turkey and in the agricultural city of Larissa stayed in position.

Reports in recent days said the border were being opened to traffic for a few hours every day.

The farmers are demanding tax rebates and subsidies from the government in the wake of falling prices for their goods and sinking EU subsidies. They estimated that their income levels had declined by a quarter in the past 10 years.

The conservative government has offered an aid package totalling 500 million euros (650 million dollars) and has said the current financial crisis leaves them no room to offer more.

The government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has taken a beating in the past few months as public discontent over low wages and rising unemployment triggered some of the worst riots the country has seen in December.

Many critics say Karamanlis, whose party has a one-seat majority in parliament, may be forced to follow on the heals of Icelandic Prime Minister Geir Haarde who resigned earlier this week after a wave of street protests toppled his coalition. (dpa)