Normal life was affected in Srinagar [Images] and other major towns of the valley in view of a strike to protest the assassination of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

The strike, called by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the hardline separatist leader and chairman of his own group of the separatist conglomerate, All Parties Hurriyat Conference, closed markets and businesses in Srinagar.

The effect of the strike was partial in other valley towns of Budgam, Pampore, Kulgam and Sopore.

Stone pelting-youth halted traffic in the Nowhatta locality of Srinagar on Friday morning. The youths, shouting pro-Benazir Bhutto slogans, had to be chased away by the police using batons.

In the Zadibal locality, youths burnt tyres and indulged in stone-pelting at passing vehicles. Authorities sounded a general alert in the entire valley on Friday morning in the wake of Bhutto's assassination. Additional police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in Srinagar and other major towns to maintain law and order.

The killing of the former Pakistan Prime Minister has been widely condemned in the valley, both by the separatists as well mainstream parties.