Anti-privatisation strike in India

Trade unions in India have called nearly four million workers out on strike today in protest at the government's privatisation plans.

Union officials say postal and telecommunications services will be particularly hard hit, but the government says the strike is unlikely to have any significant impact.

Next week, the government is to finalise its plans to cut the number of civil servants in line with recommendations drawn up by a committee last year.

The committee was set up after Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha called for an end to overstaffing in government departments.

Union officials say there will be major cuts in nearly 40 departments.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service