Flights were grounded, schools shut and striking Greek workers took to the streets on Wednesday in protest against cuts the government says are needed to save the nation from bankruptcy. The 24-hour general strike was organised by the country's two main unions, Adedy for the public sector and Gsee for workers in the private sector. Members of the two unions gathered at 11 am at Clathmonos square in the centre of Athens while Pame, the union close to the Greek communist party, came together on another square, Omonia square.

All the country's archaeological sites and museums remained closed due to the strike of the national association of guards of antiquities. Teachers at elementary schools, high schools and universities have also laid down their work, to protest against the lack of staff and school books, and teachers of the higher technical institutes also protested against the lack of teaching staff. Lawyers and port workers of the two largest unions also participated in the strike.

Some incidents took place on the central Syntagma square, outside the Greek parliament, after police officers launched tear-gas canisters in the direction of around ten young protesters who had thrown stones and bottles at them. Two young protesters were injured .Isolated violence, including attack on photographers by police, mar otherwise peaceful day

Clashes blight austerity protest

Several photographers covering the demonstration accused police of violent attacks against them and some are planning legal action

Thousands of Greeks walked off the job on Wednesday to protest the government’s ongoing austerity drive, in the first general strike since June, and joined protest rallies which were small by Greek standards but were marred by isolated outbreaks of violence.

In the early afternoon, when two marches - one organized by the Communist-affiliated labor union PAME and the other by the country’s two main labor unions - converged in front of Parliament, dozens of hooded youths hurled stones at police, who responded by firing tear gas.

A large crowd of protesters taunted police, calling them “traitors” and “murderers,” and there were reports of several injuries to both officers and demonstrators during the scuffles that ensued.

Several photographers covering the demonstration accused police of violent attacks against them and there were reports late on Wednesday that a group of photojournalists were planning to take legal action against the force.

The country’s two labor unions were clearly disappointed with the turnout at the rallies - put at 13,000 by police and at 25,000 by organizers - but stressed that another general strike, scheduled for October 19, would draw a larger crowd.

As is usual, the strike paralyzed international travel - with Greek air space closed for 24 hours, the national rail service suspended and ferries moored in ports - though public transport workers ran a limited service to allow demonstrators to attend protest rallies.

Public services were disrupted too, with tax offices, courts and schools shut down for the day while hospitals were operating on skeleton staffs.