ROME, Italy - September 7, 2011 - Italy ground to a halt today as a general strike brought thousands - if not millions - on to the street in protest at a belt-tightening 45 billion euro austerity package.

The strike was organized by the Italian General Confederation of Labor (CGIL), the country's biggest trade union, and saw disruption to flights, buses, trains, hospitals, schools, post offices, and other government services.

Demonstrations were held in several cities across the country, with extra police being drafted to stop any potential disorder, but there were still sporadic outbursts, with eight officers hurt by fireworks.

The strike was supported by British trade union Unison chief Dave Prentis, who sent a letter backing the action, expressing the “solidarity” of his members with Italian workers.  Prentis added that politicians across Europe were in a “vicious circle that was increasing as opposed to reducing public debt because of austerity cuts.

“What we and European trade unions are proposing as a way out of the crisis is growth - that's why we wish the best of luck to our colleagues in CGIL in their fight,” said Prentis.

Italy, the third largest economy in the Eurozone, is teetering on the edge of a Greek-style financial crisis, with a debt approaching 1 trillion euros - 120% of its Gross Domestic Product.

The under pressure prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has insisted the best way to tackle the crisis is with the tough austerity package, which will see cuts in education, health, and pay freezes.