Downtown Athens and Thessaloniki gridlocked by marches and transport strikes

Downtown Athens and Thessaloniki were turning into a motorist's nightmare on Tuesday, as unions gathered at central public squares and public transport workers joined a nationwide general strike in protest at social security reforms being implemented by the center-right government.

In the capital, protesters from the ADEDY civil servants' union and communist-affiliated PAME, among other groups, were gathering at central points to march onto Syntagma Square in front of Parliament, where the contentious legislation will be voted on by lawmakers.

Traffic jams were reported on Kifissos, Katehaki, Mesogeion, Kifissias, Alexandras and Vassilissis Sofias avenues, as well as on the northbound stretch of Syngrou Avenue. Roads to and from the port of Piraeus were also experiencing problems.

To help motorists, police have lifted the usual restrictions on cars in the city...