Thousands of Italian public sector and transport workers took to the streets today in a strike which snarled air, rail and roads as Italy's biggest trade union protested the economic situation.

"Let's break down the wall of the economic crisis," read a banner held up at one rally through the centre of Rome to the Colosseum. Protesters waved the red flags of the CGIL union and chanted anti-government slogans.

Twenty flights were cancelled at Rome's Fiumicino airport, 23 flights in Naples and the metro system in the Italian capital was largely suspended.

Train drivers said they were walking out for four hours later on Friday.

CGIL leader Susanna Camusso, who took part in the rally in Naples, said: "Government revenues need to be used to create jobs and growth."

Italy has struggled to emerge from the global economic crisis.

Economic growth slowed in the fourth quarter of 2010 to 0.1 percent, taking the full-year result to just 1.3 percent. The government has revised down its forecasts for 2011 and is now predicting 1.1 percent growth this year.

Italy's unemployment rate rose to 8.3 percent in March from 8.2 percent in February -- the first increase in months. The unemployment rate among young people aged between 15 and 24 also rose to 28.6 percent in March.