Tens of thousands walk out against government's cuts

Police figures - which tend to underestimate march sizes - said 15,000 took part in a Communist-backed Pame union demonstration in Athens before 25,000 joined one called by Greece's two main union federations.

Another 17,000 people marched through the northern city of Thessaloniki.

Farmers also thronged the streets, joining the Pame demonstration in their tractors.

Farmers are often seen as bastions of the ruling conservative New Democracy party, though the Communist-aligned All Peasants Militant Rally has mobilised many for left causes.

Demonstrators also joined a roadblock set up by farmers on the Nikaia road junction nearly two weeks ago.

Private-sector union federation GSEE said the strike was "our answer to the dead-end policies that have squeezed the life out of workers, impoverished society and plunged the economy into recession and crisis.

"Our struggle will continue for as long as these policies are implemented."

Doctors and nurses walked out leaving hospitals with only emergency staff.

Ships remained in docks, stopping ferry services between islands. Other public transport suffered severe disruption.

Teachers joined civil servants in walking out, leaving classrooms empty.

Cities across Greece were paralysed by a seething mass of demonstrators.

Unemployment - already at an astronomically high 27 per cent - is expected to reach 30 per cent this year.

Government research suggests the economy will contract by a further 4.1 per cent, bringing the total shrinkage to 25 per cent since the crisis began.

In calling Greeks to join the strike, Pame said monopoly bankers and industrialists wanted a development "stained with blood from the butchering out our rights."

Warning that "dissatisfaction and anger are not enough to turn the wheel," the union body urged workers to join the struggle against the austerity measures.

Most demonstrations and strike rallies passed off peacefully, but a TV crew's car was set alight in Thessaloniki and protesters attacked pawn shops.

There were minor clashes with police in other parts of the country.