The government on Wednesday decided to order a civil mobilisation to end a strike by truck owners that has starved Greece of fuel, by order of Prime Minister George Papandreou.

The decision was made after a Wednesday meeting between transport ministry officials and striking freight truck owners, including tanker trucks that transport fuels, ended in deadlock.

Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Minister Dimitris Reppas had earlier left open the possibility of a civil mobilisation order (requisition of labour) if the strikes continued.

Asked whether this was a possibility as he emerged from a meeting with EU-IMF inspectors, Reppas said the ministry was "looking into" this option and stressed that "the state is not defenceless, society is not unprotected".

The minister also emphasised that he would not make amendments to the draft bill opening the road freight market tabled in Parliament, which truck owners object to.

Transport ministry general secretary Haris Tsiokas, who had participated in the negotiations with truck owners earlier on Wednesday, said the government continued to be in favour of dialogue but would not allow the country to become paralysed.

During the meeting, the striking truck owners rejected the government's proposal to end their strike and then begin dialogue on the measures, as well as a second proposal offering them a second free licence as compensation.

The strikers are asking that the draft bill should not be tabled until the end of August, an option that has been ruled out by the government since it is bound by the EU-IMF memorandum for the financial support package to Greece.

Truck owners are also demanding compensation equal to the value of the licences they now hold and security for the pension rights.

After the outcome of the meeting, the owners' representatives said that they will recommend the continuation of the sector's mobilisations.

Tsiokas said the ministry had presented proposals for further measures that would help truck owners cover their investment during the transitional period. He urged truckers to consider continuing dialogue in a calmer atmosphere and "not in a regime of blackmailing Greek society".