Greece's government used a rare emergency order Tuesday to force striking garbage collectors back to work after thousands of tons of rubbish have been festering on the streets of the capital.
The government issued the civil mobilisation order after more than 6,000 tons of garbage have gathered in bins and on street corners in dozens of municipalities around Athens for the past three weeks, prompting experts to warn of a public health risk.
Municipal employees have said they are determined to continue a blockade of the Greek capital's main landfill site at Ano Liosia in northwestern Athens.
A number of privately contracted collectors, which have been commissioned by the government to replace striking garbage collectors, have been attacked around the city in recent days. - Sapa-dpa