Union officials said today that more than one million Italians had taken to the streets as a general strike got underway protesting against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's economic policies and plans for a sweeping reform of employment laws.
The strike - called by Italy's biggest trade union, the CGIL - is the country's second in six months and takes place following a decision by carmaker Fiat to lay off more than 8,000 employees.
It threatened chaos across Italy with millions of workers expected to join stoppages.
The strikers are protesting at a range of the right-wing government's economic policies, from the reform of a law making it easier for companies to fire workers to the draft 2003 budget.
Air, rail and bus travellers faced serious delays and street demonstrations were planned for 120 cities and large towns across the country.
In Rome, trade unions organised two separate marches that drew at least 100,000 people, according to a CGIL official. Private cars and buses had disappeared from downtown Rome by 10.30 a.m. while the capital's two subway lines were closed.
Italy's national airline, Alitalia, cancelled 275 flights, and 40 per cent of train services have been cut. Schools as well as some post offices and banks were shut down, the CGIL said.
In April, 13 million Italians shut down factories, shops and businesses during the first general strike in two decades, which won the backing of all the main trades unions.
AFP