The streets were empty and shops and banks were closed Thursday as Venezuela's first general strike in 31 years began to protest government economic austerity measures.

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"It's a total success," said Cesar Gil of the 3 million-member Venezuela Confederation of Workers, which called the 12-hour strike. "Initial reports from around the country indicate the total labor force is involved."The government measures, which included price increases and a salary squeeze, prompted bloody riots in February that left 270 dead.

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