Transport workers shut down Athens

The walkout followed a strike by public-sector workers on Wednesday against new austerity measures and planned layoffs.

The strike disrupted local transport, grounded flights and shut down schools and offices.

Wage cuts and tax rises were demanded by Greece's international lenders in order to qualify for bailout loans.

The measures include earmarking 27,000 public-sector workers for eventual dismissal.

The walkout was called by the Adedy union which represents about half a million public-sector workers - about a quarter of the country's workforce.

"We demand that the government change these unjust policies that hurt workers and kill the public sector," said Adedy chief Costas Tsikrikas.

"We want measures that create growth and boost employment, we want the government to crack down on tax evasion instead. We will keep protesting."

Thousands of teachers, doctors and municipal workers rallied in the streets of Athens and marched to the administrative reform ministry.

Private-sector union GSEE held a three-hour stoppage in work to join the march to the administrative reform ministry and the Pame bloc held a separate rally.

The International Monetary Fund had unblocked part of its aid to Greece on Wednesday, releasing €3.2 billion (£2.7bn).

"Greece's fiscal effort has been impressive by any measure," IMF managing director Christine Lagarde claimed.

But she warned that Greece still needs to "shrink the public sector, in particular through targeted redundancies."