Protesters bring Greece to standstill

ATHENS, Greece, April 2 (UPI) -- Thousands of Greeks took to the streets Thursday to protest a government decision to freeze wages in public and state-run companies, reports said.

Public utility services were closed and air, train and sea transportation services were stopped for several hours, the Serbian news agency Beta reported.

Mass media stopped reporting on daily events. Early Thursday, the Greek Kathimerini newspaper only published a brief report saying, "Public transport disruptions and flight cancellations due today." Teachers, hospital workers and journalists were also expected to join the strike, Khatimerini said.

Strikers were protesting the Greek government's decision to freeze salaries in the public sector and thus "protect the rich ones," Beta said.

State-run schools were closed and hospitals maintained only skeletal medical services.

The 24-hour strike was called by the country's two largest union organizations, the General Confederation of Workers and the Civil Servants' Council.

Strikes were reported in Athens, Thessaloniki and other major Greek towns.

Previously this week, assailants with gas bombs attacked offices of two government ministers.

Bombings and attacks on banks and businesses have been reported in Greece since police shot a teenager in December, triggering riots.