Firefighters gain upper hand over Greek fires

ATHENS, Aug 29 (Reuters) Greek firefighters started to get to grips with countrywide forest fires today after six devastating days, but warned that a coming heatwave could reignite the flames that have killed at least 63 people.

While survivors queued for cash handouts, thousands of people rallied in Athens to protest at what they see as a feeble government response to the crisis, increasing pressure on Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis who faces re-election next month.

''(I'm angry at) the lives that were lost, the people that were devastated, but most of all at how the state handled the situation -- lazily and badly organised,'' said Maria Kyritsopoulou, 38, who attended the rally with her two small children.

''This will surely affect the elections, I hope it will.'' More than 8,000 people, most wearing black as a sign of mourning, were estimated to have taken part in the 'silent' protest outside parliament organised by word of mouth and through blogs rather than by any political party.

Both Greece's main parties have lost popularity since the fires started, and polls show the New Democracy party has a slight lead over the Socialist opposition PASOK ahead of the snap Sept. 16. elections that Karamanlis called before the fires.

The government told Reuters it estimated the fire damage at at least 0.6 per cent of GDP, or 1.2 billion euros (1.6 billion dollars) and said it would apply for European Union emergency aid.

VILLAGES EVACUATED At nightfall, five villages on the southerly Peloponnese peninsula were still being evacuated, in areas where the flames continued to burn the once verdant pine forests and olive groves that hot summer winds have turned tinder-dry.

Firefighters said they were largely on top of things. ''The biggest fronts are either receding or under partial control,'' fire brigade spokesman Nikos Diamandis told foreign journalists.

''We are concerned because a new heatwave is coming, according to the weather service, peaking on Saturday and Sunday,'' he added.

Thousands of people rushed to banks to claim an initial 3,000 euros in government compensation. Greek TV showed one bank sending angry claimants away after running out of cash.

As the flames died down, the devastation of the environment and economy of the fertile peninsula was painfully clear.

Among the burned trees on the mountainside near the village of Minthi, around 70 charred goat carcasses lay putrefying in the sun, the stench of rotting flesh drifting in the wind. The body of the farmer who died with his animals had been removed.

''Everything we had has gone. We had oil, we lived off the olives. It's all gone,'' said Athanassia Kazakopoulou, 77, from the village of Frixa.

Greeks are angry about the fires which many believe were started deliberately, and horrified by broadcasts of frantic phone calls from villagers surrounded by flames, pleading for help from the overburdened fire service.

But with polls showing a fall in support for both main parties, it looked as if Greeks were becoming increasingly disillusioned with all mainstream politicians, an opinion expressed by one 73-year-old in a hamlet left to fend for itself as the flames drew near.

''The only thing some people are good at is being on the take,'' Theodoros Panagiotopoulos told Reuters in Frixa. ''But we are alive, thank God.'' Reuters RKM VP0055