Mining company suspends work at Greek site, lays off 600 after spat with government

Further 500 jobs to be cut later in year

ATHENS, Greece (CP) — Canadian mining company Eldorado Gold says it is suspending work at a site in northern Greece and laying off 600 workers following protests by local residents and a spat with the country's left-wing government.

The Vancouver-based company said Tuesday it was suspending operations at a gold mine at Skouries, one of four major Greek sites where the company is involved.

Eldorado Gold CEO Paul Wright said a further 500 jobs were also likely to be cut later in the year.

Wright accused the government of using the mining project as a ``political toy'' but insisted the company had no plans to pull out of Greece.

Elected a year ago, the leftwing government has expressed support for resident protest groups near Skouries who oppose the project on environmental grounds.

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