ATHENS, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Workers at the Greek "Skaramangas" shipyards stormed the defense ministry on Thursday to protest against six-month backpay, local media reported.

Greek television channels broadcast images of a few dozen protesters, amongst some 500 workers who gathered outside the ministry, entering the courtyard and starting a sit-in protest in front of the Armed Forces General Staff headquarters.

In minor scuffles with police, three people were slightly injured and three protesters were detained, according to media reports.

Since 2010, the Greek shipyards have been controlled by a consortium headed by United Arab Emirates-based company Abu Dhabi Mar with the participation of German ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.

Due to financial disputes with the Greek government over orders of submarines, the owners of Skaramangas have pushed for the dismissal of some of the approximately 1,000 employees who have launched industrial actions over the past few months to demand backpay.

Since 2010, Greece has been kept afloat with rescue loans from the EU and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in return of a harsh austerity and reform program which has caused strong reactions from recession-hit Greek citizens.

The protest, which is part of a long string of rallies and strikes this autumn, came as the government negotiates with lenders a fresh painful multi-billion-euro austerity package for 2013-2014 in exchange for further bailout financing this year. Enditem

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