SPANISH WOMEN STRIKE

MADRID : Spain marked International Women's Day on Thursday with an unprecedented strike by women in defence of their rights that saw -

Hundreds of trains cancelled and countless protests scheduled throughout the day.

Called by 10 unions to demand equality, particularly where salaries are concerned,  the strike dominated the headlines with famous female presenters noticeably absent from radio or television shows.

Feminist groups also called on women not to spend money on items such as deodorants whose versions created for women often cost more, and to ditch domestic chores for the day.

The strike was attempting to emulate  Iceland's 1975 work stoppage, when women took a day off in October to demonstrate their vital contributions to their country's economy and society.

However, Spain's two main unions - the CCOO and DGT - have called on their members to stop work for only two hours on Thursday.

Ana Reyes, a 37- year old PR executive, said she was striking ''in the hope that the importance of half of the population would be recognized and and that it would bring about a real change.''

She said the action gave  ''visibility to the malaise and discrimination we women suffer''.

*Spain is a leading country in the fight for women's rights and against gender violence*.

In 2004, for instance, the then Socialist government approved a law on violence against women that the European Council has upheld as an example to follow.

[AFP].