Bid to clean up Greek tanker oil spillage is beset by problems

As efforts continued on Monday to clean up hundreds of tons of fuel which leaked from the sunken Agia Zoni II tanker last weekend, the conservation group WWF Hellas lodged legal action against "all those responsible" for what it described as "an environmental crime deserving exemplary punishment."

Meanwhile, although government officials promised that the oil will have been cleaned up within a month, experts have been warning that the repercussions of the spill will last for years.

During a televised cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras defended his government's handling of the crisis while also acknowledging citizens' concerns about the extent and impact of the pollution.

He underlined the need for "deep reforms" to the system under which licenses are issued deeming vessels to be seaworthy "so that we can more effectively protect the great wealth of our...