Blair was here for an informal summit of European Union leaders, the first since the fall of the Iraqi regime, ahead of the signing of the accession treaties of the EU's 10 members-in-waiting.

Militants prevented employees from entering the airline's offices in the suburbs and unfurled a banner denouncing Britain's involvement in the US intervention in Iraq.

Communists and anti-globalisation demonstrators, as well as the main Greek trades union confederation GSEE, have announced mass demonstrations for Wednesday to protest against the "undesirable" presence of Blair and his Italian and Spanish counterparts.

More than 10,000 police have been mobilised to ensure security and more than half the city has been barred to traffic and demonstrators.

SPACE.WIRE