Strikes hit France, Portugal and Greece

It has been a day of strikes for several countries in Europe.

Citing action for employment, workers and the retired, people took to the streets of Paris in their thousands.

Some teachers did not turn up for work in schools and there were also national reports of delays on public transport.

Trains were at a standstill in Portugal, due to a 24 hour strike by rail staff, angry at government plans to freeze their salaries as part of attempts to balance the national budget.

There were fireworks in Greece as firefighters gathered outside the Finance Ministry in Athens to protest against the government’s austerity measures.

The Cabinet was meeting to put the final touches to a tax reform bill which is likely to include rises across the board.

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