About 10,000 protesters marched in central Athens, Greek capital, to the U.S. Embassy on Monday to mark the students uprising on Nov. 17, 1973, which was crushed by the military junta then ruling Greece.
The annual march marks the uprising at the Athens Polytechnic University. Dozens are believed to have been killed when tanks rolled through the school gates and in the surrounding streets.
Protesters led by the Athens Polytechnic University's blood-stained flag marched to the U.S. Embassy to protest against American support for the junta which ruled Greece during 1967-1974.
Protesters chanted slogans such as "Democracy" and were also in protest against the ongoing global financial crisis. As with every Nov. 17 commemoration, police are taking increased security measures along the thoroughfares where the march will pass.
The U.S. Embassy was surrounded by dozens of big police buses and about 8,000 police officers guarded the protesters while shops shut and streets were closed to traffic.
Earlier on Monday, Greek President Karolos Papoulias and other senior government officials paid respects at the Athens Polytechnic memorial, on the 35th anniversary of a students' uprising against the military dictatorship then ruling Greece.
Source:Xinhua
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