Public services have ground to a halt in Greece as workers start a three-day general strike in protest at new bailout austerity measures they say will further decimate incomes.

In a sign of growing discontent with the left-led coalition government, unions announced a 48-hour strike starting on Friday in addition to a previously declared Sunday strike.

State-run and many private services, including waste collection, public transport, municipal offices and news broadcasts, have been suspended.

Ferries to and from the Greek islands will not operate until Tuesday morning. Doctors, dentists and journalists joined the strike, while lawyers have abstained from court appearances for months.

The strike is timed to coincide with the vote on Sunday night of a bill overhauling the pension system, a reform proposed by the government under requirements for Greece's third international bailout.

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