Violence in Greece breaks out after annual US Embassy march

ATHENS, Greece – Hundreds of youths attacked police in Greece's two largest cities on Friday, hurling rocks, flares and gas bombs, following large, peaceful marches to mark the anniversary of the 1973 crackdown on a student uprising against Greece's former military dictatorship.

In Athens, protesters hurled dozens of gas bombs as they confronted police in narrow streets in the city center. Police fired tear gas at the protesters. There were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests. Violence also broke out in Greece's second largest city, Thessaloniki.

More than 5,000 officers were on duty for annual march in the Greek capital to the US Embassy, which commemorates those who died in the crackdown on the uprising against the 1967-74 junta. The sidewalk outside the embassy was blocked off by police buses.

The annual march is often used as a means of expressing displeasure with policies of the Greek, European and American governments.

Several groups were marching along the same route, with police estimating about 11,000 protesters in total.