Second day of strikes hits Athens

Buses, metro trains, trams and taxis are staying out of circulation in the Greek capital, snarling traffic around Athens as public transport workers strike for a second day against austerity measures.

Taxi drivers today joined the 48-hour strike, while lawyers walked off the job until October 19 and customs officers for 10 days.

Greece's two largest labour unions have announced a 48-hour nationwide general strike for October 19-20. That will coincide with a vote in parliament on new austerity measures, including labour law reforms.

The government has been imposing repeated rounds of budget cuts, tax hikes and other measures so that it can qualify for funds from a 110 billion euro (£96 billion) international bailout loan that is preventing it from defaulting on its debts.

AP