A 24 hour general strike has begun to paralyse Greece. The country's two biggest unions called the strike as the Socialist government began to debate one of the toughest budgets yet in parliament. Trade unionists say they will escalate their industrial action after the strike. Helena Smith reports from Athens:

Even before it had started, trade unionists said they expected the general strike to bring Greece to a grinding halt. For the first time ever Greek workers have been joined by civil servants in the walkout, staged to protest one of the toughest budgets ever.

Public transport is expected to be especially hard-hit by the industrial action. Along with buses and trolleys, ships in ports across the country, as well as Olympic Airways, the national carrier, are all set to be grounded by the work stoppage.

At other times of the day, the strikers say government offices, banks, industry and commerce will likewise be paralysed. Rallying behind state school teachers, journalists announced that they too would also be taking part in the walkout.

Calling the strike, the General Confederation of Greek Workers, the country's biggest labour grouping, said around 76% of the workforce were paid below the poverty level. Greeks have had to endure economic austerity programmes since 1986.

Under the leadership of the fiercely pro-European premier Kostas Simitis, Greeks have been told in no uncertain terms that they will have to brace themselves for yet more fiscal measures in the name of European monetary union. On paper, Greece is now the poorest member of the EU.