Protests in Athens, Thessaloniki against Rice visit

   Protests against a working visit to Greece by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday were held in Athens and the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki by mainly left-wing groups but were prevented from approaching the streets where the US official would pass by a strong police presence.

    A protest organised by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Stop the War organisation began at the University's Proylae on Tuesday morning, while the Greek Social Forum held a separate rally at Klathmonos Square. Two separate marches were also held in Thessaloniki, one organised by KKE and another by the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology party.

    The KKE/Stop the War march headed towards Syntagma Square via Panepistimiou Avenue, but were blocked by police at Amerikis Street.

    Protestors changed course heading towards Academias Street instead.

    A demonstration and march organised by the Greek Social Forum began at Klafthmonos Square in downtown Athens, chanting slogans such as "Hands off Iran" and "Greeks are not eager", expressing their opposition to US foreign policy.

    Minor incidents were reported at the Panepistimiou Avenue and Amerikis Street intersection when some protestors tried to break through the police blockade interrupting their march towards Syntagma Square.

    Police used tear gas to force protestors to head towards Academias Street.

    The Greek Social Forum demonstration, as well as the one organised by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), ended on Tuesday afternoon.

    Two separate protest marches were scheduled to take place in Thessaloniki, one organized by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and PAME at Venizelos Square at 7pm on Tuesday evening, while the protest rally organized by the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) party, the Greek Social Forum and the ?Alliance - Stop the War? will be held at Kamara, also at 7pm.

   

    The KKE protest march, scheduled to take place after the rally, will end up outside the US Consulate. The organizers of the other protest march have not provided specific information.