School teachers, doctors, air-traffic controllers, tax and customs officials and staff in state enterprises, local authorities and social insurance funds were among those that participated in a 24-hour nationwide strike held on Thursday by the civil servants' union federation ADEDY.

Public-sector services were at a virtual standstill and airline flights were disrupted or cancelled, while problems also occurred at state hospitals operating with skeleton staff.

ADEDY called the strike in order to demand reversal of the EU-IMF Memorandum and its policies, which included pay cuts for public-sector staff and changes in the pension system.

There was also heavy traffic going into the centre of Athens after 11:00 a.m. due to the strike rally organised by ADEDY in the city centre, with protestors gathering at Klafthmonos Square and marching to Parliament. Athens public transport staff did not participate in the strike, with all transport services running normally.