Greece hit by 24-hour strike of public sector unions against austerity

Greece was hit on Thursday by a 24-hour strike called by the umbrella public sector union, ADEDY, and other labor unions, in protest of the new austerity measures and reforms the government is discussing with the country's international lenders.

More than 3,000 protesters marched in front of the parliament building in Athens yelling anti-austerity slogans, as public services nationwide were paralyzed.

Public hospitals, schools and tax offices were closed, and all incoming and outgoing flights at Greek airports were cancelled from the early hours of Thursday until the early hours of Friday.

There was also a media blackout, as journalists' unions participated in the strike.

The latest strike was held as the government was aiming to close an initial deal with the envoys of creditors in Athens by Monday to conclude the ongoing review of the Greek bailout program quickly so that further rescue loans could be released to the debt-laden country.

After six years of austerity and recession, demonstrators said they could no longer bear the burden of more harsh wage and pension cuts, and tax hikes. Enditem