THOUSANDS of Greek workers marched in the capital Athens today as a 24-hour general strike shut down services across the country.

The huge stoppage forced flight cancellations and school closures but left state hospitals functioning with a skeleton staff covering emergencies.

It forced airlines to cancel all international and domestic flights after air traffic controllers joined the action. 

Public transport in Athens was also severely disrupted as bus, trolley and subway workers took part in the strike for several hours, while ferries were tied up in ports.

Protests were held throughout Greece’s main cities during the day.

Trade unions had called the strike to protest against continued austerity measures that have wiped out a quarter of the country’s economy and sent unemployment soaring to 26 per cent.

Youth unemployment reached nearly 60 per cent at the height of the crisis, which began in late 2009.

“We are responding to the dogmatic insistence of the government and creditors for further austerity policies and tax raids,” the GSEE union said.

To tackle the crisis, Greece has depended on billions of euros of loans from the eurozone and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since 2010.

But these came at a cost. Greece was forced to adopt painful austerity measures, including pension and salary cuts.

The main bulk of the bailout — the eurozone loan — is due to end this year. The IMF portion continues until 2016.

The progress of reforms has been closely monitored by international debt inspectors from the IMF, European Commission and European Central Bank.

But the conclusion of the latest talks has been delayed by disagreements. 

Two days of negotiations in Paris ended inconclusively on Wednesday.

And Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos admitted yesterday that Greece may have to delay its planned exit from the bailout by the end of the year.

“The European programme ends on December 31,” he said. 

“The aim is for the last tranche to be dispersed by then. 

“If for technical reasons some procedures cannot be completed there could be an extension, but not a new bailout,” he said.