Lorry drivers in Greece have ended a week-long strike against proposed plans to reform the freight industry and agreed to resume talks with the government.

The union decision, approved by a narrow margin, came after the army was mobilised to deliver fuel to key sites, international media reported.

The Greek government enlisted the army at the end of last week in order to tackle the fallout from a five-day strike by truck drivers, dispatching military trucks to help alleviate nationwide fuel shortages.

"The armed forces, with their own means, are already guaranteeing the supply of critical sectors such as airports, electricity plants and hospitals," said a statement issued after an emergency Cabinet meeting, reported by the Kathimerini. The statement also said that navy landing craft would also be deployed if needed.

The drivers, furious over a plan to allow more competition as required by the International Monetary Fund, ignored an order to return to work last week, sparking anger among Greeks and a decision from the government to resort to drastic action.

Fuel supplies were severely disrupted and Greece's tourist industry, which is already suffering severely from the global economic crunch and the recent general public sector strikes, was hit worst still.

A representative of general assembly of truck federations, Giorgos Tzortzatos, said it did not want to see people deprived of essential goods.

"Taking into consideration the problems that have been created by not supplying the market with food and petrol and other products, and with a sense of responsibility, we decided on the suspension of the strike by a narrow majority of votes," he told reporters after Sunday's vote.

The impact of the truckers’ action on Greeks and tourists was severe as most of the country was left paralysed, with hundreds of thousands of tourists stranded, while stores were not able to stock on foods, and other essentials, media reports said. Motorists experienced problems as many petrol stations remained without fuel. The problems were most acute in northern Greece.