No apology, no resignation

MATI, Greece (Reuters) – Greece's opposition to the government on Friday, October 26th, 2009, at 10:00 pm

Survivors of one of the worst Greek disasters in living memory already heckled A government minister when he visited the scene less than 30 km (17 miles) east of Athens on Thursday.

Purpose on Friday Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras ended, and his opponents immediately went on the offensive.

The main opposition New Democracy party criticized a government news conference on Thursday night. "This government has just added unbridled cheek to its abject failure in protecting lives and people's property," said New Democracy spokeswoman Maria Spyraki.

Civil Protection Minister Nikos Toskas told the news that the government was arrested Monday night's blaze, which trapped dozens of people in their cars trying to escape a wall of flames.

The left-led government defended itself, saying there had was no time to evacuate people because the blaze spread very quickly.

But pressure is growing on the government, which is trailing New Democracy in opinion polls, as the trapped piled up.

Tsipras has not been seen in public since Tuesday, when he declared the three days of national mourning for the dead. A cabinet meeting was scheduled for 1400 GMT on Friday.

Politicians' criticism reflected anger among the survivors. "They left us alone to burn mice," Chryssa, one of the survivors in Mati, told Skai television. "

Toskas said he had offered his resignation but Tsipras rejected it. "A day after the tragedy, especially to have my conscience clear, and I have my time to fight," Toskas told reporters on Thursday.

Fofi Gennimata, who leads the socialist PASOK party, said the government carried a huge political responsibility.

"Why did not they protect the people in the areas that were threatened?" She said. "

ONE-OFF PAYMENTS

The government has announced a long list of relief measures including a one-off 10,000 euro ($ 11,600) payment for families of the victims. Their spouses and near relatives were also offered public sector jobs. But many felt that it was not enough to ease the burden of devastation.

About 300 fire fighters and volunteers were still struggling on Friday. More than 500 homes were destroyed, and the fire brigade said some closed-up homes had not yet been checked.

Haphazard and unlicensed building, a feature of many areas across Greece, was also blamed. Many roads to the beach were walled off.

Mortuary staff in Athens, shocked at the sight of burnt bodies and children, were expected to conclude post-mortem later on Friday.

The fire broke out on Monday at 4:57 pm and spread rapidly through Mati, which is popular with local tourists.

Firefighters described a rapid change in the direction of the wind, which has also suggested speeding up the rate of decline.