The military said the security forces were under orders to prevent any road closures or rioting.

The army has always maintained a presence on the streets, but more troops were deployed and patrols sent to prevent trouble.

A year ago, a similar opposition-backed strike to bring down the government degenerated into the worst rioting in Lebanon since the 1975-90 civil war.

The strike was called by agricultural and transport unions to protest over the rising cost of living and insisted it would be peaceful.

The striking public transport and agricultural unions said the work stoppage had no affiliation with the political opposition, but pro-government groups dismissed the strike call as another attempt by the opposition to bring down the government.

Traffic on motorway entrances to the city remained normal as labour unions were divided like much of the country amid the deep political crisis between the government and the opposition. Some unions opted not to join the strike after the government met some of their demands a day earlier.

The government said schools would remain open and pro-government unions called on members to ignore the strike.

But many families kept their children at home after some schools told parents there would be no bus service and students would have to make it on their own to the schools.

The pro-government majority has accused the opposition of responsibility for a faltering economy. The opposition has blamed Western-backed Prime Minister Fuad Saniora's government for the situation.