Employees of the controversial mining operation in Skouries of Halkidiki cut off access to the Stratoni intersection at midday on Monday and are prepared to cut off the intersection at Plana.

The miners cut off access to the intersections in protest to the government decision to temporarily shut down the operations of the Canadian-owned Hellenic Gold company, citing “technical violations”.

On Sunday local residents and activists opposing the mining operation clashed with riot police on the near-by Kakavos mountain, with 78 being detained and later arrested. The 78 will face breach of peace charges.