'Mother Of All Strikes' Shuts Down Greece

A two-day general strike has shut down public transport, schools and shops in Greece as thousands of protesters clashed with police in the capital Athens.

Unions representing around half of the country's four million-strong workforce have called the walkout.

They are protesting against a sweeping package of austerity measures, which were approved in parliament on Thursday.

All sectors, from dentists, state hospital doctors and lawyers to shop owners, tax office workers, pharmacists, teachers and dock workers joined the strike.

Police fired tear gas at protesters who threw stones and petrol bombs near Syntagma Square in the centre of Athens.

Nearby, rioters tore chunks of marble off buildings with hammers and crowbars and smashed windows and bank signs. Many wore black clothes with hoods, masks or motorcycle helmets.

Prime Minister George Papandreou had urged wavering deputies to back the package.

He rejected suggestions Greece could be forced out of the euro because of the crisis that has left Athens dependent on foreign support to stave off bankruptcy.

Several thousand police have been deployed in the capital, blocking a road by parliament and shutting down two nearby metro stations as protest marches began.

At least 15,000 demonstrators have gathered in Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city and thousands more in Patras and Heraklion.

The protest was dubbed "the mother of all strikes" by one Greek newspaper and is likely to be the biggest in the country since the financial crisis began.

In June there were violent clashes between rioters and police outside parliament ministers inside voted on another austerity package.

Mr Papandreou's Socialist government has 154 deputies in the 300-seat parliament and was expected to pass the latest bill.

It includes tax increases, wage cuts, public sector layoffs and changes to collective bargaining rules.

Greece had to pass the bill to continue receiving funds from its 110bn euro (£96bn) international bailout.

Unless it receives the now long overdue disbursement of an 8bn euro (£7bn) installment, it said it will run out of funds to pay salaries and pensions by mid-November.

European Union leaders are currently racing to put the foundations of a new rescue plan in place for a summit on Sunday.

There is growing talk of more direct intervention that would restrict Greek sovereignty in return for more aid.