Greece austerity strike halts Athens transport

Public transport ground to a halt in Athens Monday and tonnes of garbage piled up on the streets as workers downed tools against the debt-laden government's austerity plans. With transport workers on a 24-hour strike against salary cuts and layoffs, the capital was left without metro, bus or tram services. Only an inter-suburban train was running, and Athens' roads were a mess of traffic jams in what has become a common occurrence in recent weeks. Municipal garbage removers, meanwhile, entered the eighth day of a strike against salary cuts, as the city's main dump remained closed and early-morning torrential rains spilled rubbish onto the streets. Workers of several public bodies were also engaged in protest actions Monday against new taxes, wage cuts and layoffs imposed by the government, fighting to avert a default on its debt payments, as the next installment of international aid hangs in the balance. Transport workers were to march on the city centre later Monday. Last Wednesday, public service employees observed a 24-hour strike and about 30,000 protested in Athens and Thessaloniki. Another general trike for both the public and private sectors has been called for October 19. Representatives of the European Union and International Monetary Fund, Greece's creditors, will on Monday resume an audit of the country's finances ahead of a report expected on October 24 that will inform a eurozone decision on the release of further aid.