A general strike is under way in Greece, grounding flights, halting most public services and shutting offices and shops.

一场大罢工目前正在希腊上演，致使航班延误、多数公共服务停止、办公室和商店关闭。

Transport services across Greece are expected to be shut down for the 48-hour strike
The 48-hour strike comes as parliament prepares to vote on the latest round of austerity measures, including more tax hikes（赋税增加） , pay cuts and job losses.

Greece is struggling to reduce a huge government deficit¹ amid fears it may default and set off a eurozone crisis.

The EU and IMF have demanded tough cuts in return for two bailouts.

The BBC's Chris Morris in Athens says the pace of protests in Greece has been increasing for several weeks.

There have been lightning strikes across virtually every sector² of the economy, with rubbish not collected and government ministries³ blockaded（封锁） by their own workers.

The strike for Wednesday and Thursday has been called by the two big unions that cover public and private sector workers.

Sending a message

Government departments, businesses, offices and stores are all expected to be shut, with small business owners and shopkeepers taking part in strike action for the first time.

Air traffic controllers will stage a 12-hour walk-out. Trains, buses, taxis and lorries will not be operating.

"We are going to send a loud message to the government and the political system," said Costas Tsikrikas, the head of the public workers' union Adedy.

"We believe participation⁴ will be huge," he said.

The strikers are planning to gather outside the parliament in Athens later on Wednesday morning to protest against the austerity measures.

There were violent clashes outside parliament in June between police and protesters demanding an end to the measures.

Legislators are voting on two bills on Wednesday and Thursday that include cuts to the pay and pensions of public sector workers, higher taxes and the suspension of collective labour agreements.

Prime Minister George Papandreou's Pasok party has a four-seat majority but some of his backbenchers（普通议员） have threatened to vote against the measures.

Late on Tuesday, Mr Papandreou appealed to his MPs for support.

"We must persevere⁵ in this war as people, as a government, as a parliamentary group in order for the country to win it," he said.