Portugal hit by austerity strike

A strike by Portugal’s largest trade union confederation forced the cancellation of most public transport services today as well as hitting schools and hospital services.

The Lisbon subway, which carries more than half a million passengers every weekday, stayed closed. Train, bus and ferry companies in the capital and the second-largest city Porto provided only occasional services. Long traffic queues built up on roads into both cities as commuters resorted to their cars.