Athens - Hundreds of Olympic Airline staff blocked one of the main runways at Athens' International Airport on Thursday during a 24-hour strike against government plans to privatise the ailing airline, forcing the cancellation of nearly 100 domestic and international flights.

Carrying black banners and shouting "never, never, never," hundreds of Olympic workers blocked one of Athens airport's two runways.

Delays were kept to a minimum as many of the flights were diverted to the second runway.

Athens - Greek state carrier Olympic Airlines cancelled around 100 domestic and international flights on Thursday as air traffic controllers and flight crews launched a
24-hour strike in protest against government plans to privatize the airline.

The cancellations will cover approximately 100 flights to European destinations such as London, Rome, Brussels and Frankfurt, reports said. Some domestic flights will also be canceled.

Last month, the Greek government launched a tender to sell off the ailing airline, saying it would find new public sector jobs for its workers.

Officials have said Qatar Airways is among the investors interested in the sale but union leaders have pledged to halt the privatization.

Athens - Greek state carrier Olympic Airlines will cancel around 100 domestic and international flights on Thursday as air traffic controllers and flight crews launch a
24-hour strike in protest against government plans to privatize the airline.

The cancellations will cover approximately 100 flights to European destinations such as London, Rome, Brussels and Frankfurt, reports said. Some domestic flights would also be canceled.

Last month, the Greek government launched a tender to sell off the ailing airline, saying it would find new public sector jobs for its workers.

Officials have said Qatar Airways is among the investors interested in the sale but union leaders have pledged to halt the privatization.

Athens - Greek government spokesman Theodoros Rousopoulos resigned on Thursday over a real-estate scandal that has linked the conservative government with a monastery in northern Greece.

Rousopoulos reportedly handed in his resignation to Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and the prime minister accepted it, thanking him for his support to the party over the past eight years.

Brussels - Greece's budget deficit surged to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2007, according to revised figures published on Wednesday by the European Union's statistical office, Eurostat.

The figure is well above previous estimates and exceeds the 3-per cent limit by which countries which share the euro need to abide to.

The EU's executive arm, the European Commission, had earlier warned that it would open infringement procedures against Greece if its excessive deficit was confirmed.

However, national governments agree on the need to relax the strict rules governing the EU's Stability and Growth Pact in light of the "exceptional circumstances" resulting from the current financial crisis.

Athens - All flights to and from Greece will be suspended for several hours on Tuesday during the latest nationwide strike which will also shut down banks, schools, public transport and enforce a news blackout to protest drastic economic policies.

Air traffic controllers were due to stop work for four hours, as of noon, as part of the strike called by Greece's two largest unions, private sector federation GSEE and public sector ADEDY, representing more than half of the country's 5 million workforce.