ATHENS (MNI) - In a very rare move, the Greek government Wednesday invoked a national emergency provision to force striking fuel-tanker drivers go back to work.

The government announced it would issue the civil mobilization order, normally used in times of war or national disaster, and send letters to each of the truck drivers ordering them to report to duty. If they fail to comply, they could face criminal charges and up to five years of jail time.

The drivers had been on strike for three days through Wednesday, protesting a government effort to open up their profession, which is part of the austerity package agreed by Greece in exchange for up to E100 billion in loans from the Eurozone and the IMF.

Earlier Wednesday, discussions between the truckers union and the socialist government had collapsed and drivers vowed to continue the strike indefinitely. They complain that under the government plan, licenses to new drivers would be issued for much less than they paid, thereby putting them at a disadvantage.

The government said it will not back down and will table the draft bill to liberalize the sector this week. Under the terms of the EMU/IMF bailout plan, the sector must open up by the end of September.

About 70% of gas station owners say they have run out of supplies, while shortages of food and other goods have also been reported, affecting tourism at peak season.

The drivers' strike coincided with the arrival of the so-called "troika" officials from the European Commission, the ECB and the IMF, who have been inspecting the Greek economy since Monday and will continue doing so for the next seven days. The officials will determine whether Greece's deficit cutting plan is on track and whether the country may therefore receive a second loan installment in September, worth 9 billion euros.

The officials will draft a report in mid-August and have already indicated that the Greek plan "is broadly on track." While the second installment is considered essentially a foregone conclusion, the Socialist government is now faced with the toughest decisions, such as the opening up of closed professions, liberalizing the energy market, and further reforms in the labor sector.