Greek taxi-drivers have a reputation for poor service

The strikers are protesting against government plans to force them to give passengers detailed receipts.

The scheme, which applies to the 14,000 taxis in the Athens area and to those in other big cities, is an effort to clamp down on tax evasion and overcharging before the 2004 Olympic Games.

The BBC's Richard Galpin says the dispute is growing into a major confrontation, with another, four-day strike planned for next week.

Charm school

From 1 January taxi drivers will have to install meters in their cabs to issue detailed receipts and record data about the taxi, its owner, the cost of the journey, the distance and the tariff used.

The chief taxi drivers' association in the Athens region is calling for an increase in the level of fares, the right to use bus lanes and permission to pick up several clients at the same time.

But a senior union official told the BBC that negotiations with the government were continuing and he hoped a settlement could be reached.

Greek taxi drivers are among the cheapest in Europe but they have a notorious reputation for poor service - often smoking, doubling up on passengers and leaving passengers to load their own luggage.

They also have a reputation for rudeness - so much so that the government is planning to send many drivers to a special charm school before the games begin.

Fresh air

Transport Minister Christos Verelis said the government would respond to the drivers' questions about tax and technical issues.

But he ruled out the use of bus lanes and the right to operate collective services.

The taxi drivers have threatened to step up their pressure with a four-day strike between 22 and 25 September if the government does not meet their demands.

Some people, however will welcome the absence of 14,000 taxis from the streets.

A recent Piraeus University study blamed a third of the city's congestion on the 14,000 cabs - 4,000 more than London where the population is more than double.