* State workers blocked access over wage claims
* Police use force, teargas to disperse protesters
* Acropolis closed after brief clashes
(Adds tourist, official quotes, colour, journalists hit)
By Yiorgos Karahalis
ATHENS, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Greek riot police used batons and teargas on Thursday to disperse about 150 protesting workers who had barred tourists from the Acropolis monuments, Greece's most famous landmark.
The workers had blocked the main entrance gate to the ancient marble temples since Wednesday, saying they had been left unpaid for two years and demanding that their temporary contracts be renewed.
"Police entered the site from a side door and dispersed them using teargas grenades," a Reuters eyewitness said, adding there were no injuries. "The gate is open now."
Another Reuters witness said police also attacked journalists covering the protest and damaged cameras.
Dozens of stunned tourists watched as police came out of the main entrance to disperse the protesters forcibly.
"We've been planning this trip for five years. It was very discouraging," U.S. tourist Susan Alworth told Reuters TV. "This is a symbol. It belongs to the whole world."
The Acropolis remained closed for tourists after the brief clashes, as police cordoned off the main gate to prevent protesters from entering the site. Rallying workers vowed to continue with protests.
Greece has been shedding temporary government workers as part of deficit-cutting efforts agreed in an EU/IMF bailout last May. Ministries often hire temporary workers before elections without having secured funds to pay their wages.
Protesters held banners reading "24 months unpaid" and "We want permanent jobs". Five were temporarily detained, a police official said.
"We will rally again tomorrow. Contractors will revolt," Spyros Samartzis, a unionist representing contractors hired by the Culture Ministry told Reuters.
Millions of tourists visit the Acropolis every year to marvel at its 2,500 year old Classical Parthenon temple to the goddess Athena and other monuments.
Repeated anti-austerity strikes that shut the country's archaeological sites and leave tourists stranded at ports have hurt the key tourism sector, seen down 7-8 percent this year.
"No one has the right to close the Acropolis site, to block thousands of tourists," Tourism Minister George Nikitiades told parliament. "It's like telling them you've spent your money for nothing, you shouldn't have come here." (Writing by Harry Papachristou and Renee Maltezou; Editing by Charles Dick)
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