Taxi owners launched a surprise 24-hour nationwide strike at dawn Wednesday in protest over a decision by Infrastructures, Transport and Networks minister Yiannis Ragoussis to proceed immediately with full deregulation of the closed profession.

Since early morning, drivers have lined up their taxis along central Messogion Avenue, near the ministry, although no major disruption has been caused to traffic.ana-mpa

MAT riot police were deployed outside the ministry, while it was made known in the morning that a meeting scheduled for Wednesday between Ragoussis and a delegation of taxi owners was postponed because the minister would be taking part in a Cabinet meeting.

The meeting may be rescheduled for Thursday, according to sources.

The snap strike began at 5:00 on Wednesday morning and will run through 5:00 on Thursday morning.