Greece paralysed by first general strike for months
Dozens of flights by Greek airlines were cancelled as air traffic controllers walked out
A 24-hour general strike over austerity measures has closed schools and public offices and heavily disrupted transport throughout Greece.
Two of the biggest unions called their members out, hitting the private as well as public sector.
Greece has finally pulled out of a six-year recession, and its government is trying to exit a €240bn (£190bn; $300bn) international bailout.
But Greeks are angry at continuing austerity and high jobless rates.
Thousands of protesters were due to take part in rallies in the capital Athens and other major cities including Thessaloniki on Thursday, amid the prospect of further measures from Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's conservative-led government.
The central rail station in Athens was deserted as public transport ground to a halt
Hospitals were open only for emergencies, and shops and banks were also hit by the first general strike in Greece since April.
According to Greek media, it was the 32nd widely observed strike since 2010, when Greece sought an international bailout in the midst of the eurozone crisis.
Major routes in Athens were gridlocked as public transport was badly disrupted. Ferries were halted and air traffic controllers walked out leaving dozens of flights by Greek airlines Aegean and Olympic Air cancelled, reports said.
Ministers are negotiating in Brussels with Greece's EU/IMF lenders on next year's budget, which is expected to include pension reform and more layoffs.
In a statement, the private sector GSEE union said it was challenging the "dogmatic obsession" of both the government and its international lenders with austerity and tax increases.
Parliament will debate the 2015 budget next month. Greece has the highest unemployment rate in the EU, at just under 26%, although the figures have begun falling. Youth unemployment is at almost 50%. bbc
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