Greece's civil servants have staged a nationwide strike against planned pension reforms, badly disrupting transport and closing public offices.
Trade unions say millions of people took part in the 24-hour action, which was marked by large protests in Athens and Thessaloniki.
Unions describe the general strike - the third of its kind in as many months - as the biggest protest so far against the pension reform plan.
It follows a wave of stoppages by workers from various sectors:
- an ongoing two-week refuse collectors' strike has left piles of uncollected rubbish rotting on streets
- protest action by power sector workers has caused nationwide blackouts
- a public transport strike on Tuesday created traffic chaos in the capital Athens.
Schools, ministries and banks were closed for the day.
the conservative government of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis wants to overhaul Greece's debt-ridden pension system.
Despite the inconveniences, it seems that most Greeks support the strikers.
clipped from: news.bbc.co.uk 
