A strike called by the hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani protesting against the visit of the President Pratibha Patil affected normal life in Kashmir on Saturday.

Shops and businesses remained closed in Srinagar and other towns, while marginal traffic was seen plying on the roads.

Most of the state government offices and educational institutions were closed on Saturday in view of the strike.

The President is on a five-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, which began on Friday. She visited the Line of Control and north Kashmir Baramulla town on Friday where she addressed a Sainik Sammelan and also met officers and jawans.

The President will visit the north Kashmir tourist resort of Gulmarg on Saturday.

In Jammu the President will address the convocation of Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and inaugurate the Jammu University campus at Bhadarwah.

She will also inaugurate the Kashmir Studies Centre, University of Kashmir, in Srinagar on Monday.