Greek firefighters gain upper hand

Greek firefighters are beginning to bring the countrywide forest fires that have killed at least 63 people under control.

But the country's government has been shaken by accusations of incompetence.

Thousands of Greeks are expected to attend a protest in Athens later to express their anger and dismay at the disaster that has left many thousands homeless.

Greece's emergency services have been overwhelmed by the fires that raged from the Peloponnese in the south to Athens and the northern town of Ioannina. Reinforcements and equipment had to be rushed in from abroad, including Spain and Israel.

Fires that had trapped terrified villagers in parts of the southerly Peloponnese peninsula are now coming under control.

But firefighters warned that winds could rekindle the flames, a daily occurrence which has hampered relief efforts.

The conservative government of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has declared the worst fires on record a national emergency and called for unity and solidarity with the victims.

But opposition parties and many people devastated by the blazes have accused authorities of doing too little too late.

"The government has shown that it is completely incapable of managing this major crisis," said George Papandreou, leader of the socialist PASOK party.

"The government showed a weak response, inefficiency and what amounts to a criminal disregard."

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