ATHENS, Dec 16, 2008 (AFP) - Greece's top tourist attraction, the Athens Acropolis, reopened its doors Tuesday after the country's troubled government caved in to striking workers' pay demands, a staff union source said.

'We have decided to suspend our movement because the government is going to satisfy our principal demand, which is the payment of a monthly bonus of 130 euros (S$261),' union vice-president Georges Alvanos told AFP.

The union's 9,000 members - from archaeologists to civil servants - had closed one of the wonders of the ancient world along with other historic attractions including the cradle of the Olympics in the southern Pelopponesian, as well as ministry services and offices.

Although technically unrelated, the protest ran concurrent to and fed off widespread anti-government unrest following rioting in the capital.

According to Alvanos, the government has not paid this monthly benefit since the beginning of 2008. 'A law safeguarding this bonus will soon be voted on by parliament, they assure us,' the official added.

The iconic Athens temple, an architectural marvel dating from the 5th century BC, draws around a million visitors every year.

Greek tourism leaders said on Monday that the closure was more damaging to their industry than violence on the streets of Athens - with the global economic downturn posing the greatest threat for sales of summer packages.

In a move unrelated to the recent unrest, culture ministry staff had blocked visitors for the past 10 days amid demands for increased pay.

'I doubt I'll ever come back to your country,' a young American tourist told Skai TV.

Student leaders, meanwhile, will formalise campaign plans later on Tuesday at the Athens Polytechnic as they pursue an 11th day of protests against Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis' right-wing administration.

Demonstrations triggered by the police killing of a teenager are already scheduled for the rest of the week, and organisers now say 600 schools and universities across Greece are under student occupation.

While the education ministry says about 100 remain in the grip of student revolt, leaders - who say they are backed by senior university management - are to release manifestos aimed at cementing a winter of anti-state action.

In Thessaloniki, protesters are also set to gather outside a city court, where judgment in the case of eight police officers accused of severely beating a student during a demonstration two years ago is due.

Overnight on Monday, three central Athens banks were struck in gas canister attacks, police said. -- AFP