Nigerian labour unions have begun an indefinite general strike, bringing parts of the country to a standstill and presenting Umaru Yar'Adua, the country's new president, with his first big crisis.

Unions had called for the strike in protest at rises in fuel prices and VAT, and the sale of two state-owned oil refineries to business allies of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, all done during his last days in office.