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Violence in Greece breaks out after annual US Embassy march

ATHENS, Greece (AP) - 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 U.S. 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.

"Resistance against fascism forever," read one banner, while protesters chanted "Americans, murderers of the people!"

In Thessaloniki, where demonstrators burned an American flag outside the U.S. consulate, police said 9,000 people took part in rallies.

The Athens rally begins at the National Technical University of Athens, where the junta had sent a tank to crush the entrance gate as it cracked down on rebellious students inside. During the march Friday, the crowd turned against protesters from the governing Syriza party, pelting them with eggs and plastic bottles.

Across town, some anarchists rushed into the heavily guarded perimeter of the Greek Defense Ministry and scattered anti-war fliers. No arrests were reported.

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Costas Kantouris reported from Thessaloniki. Derek Gatopoulos and Thanassis Stavrakis in Athens contributed.

Follow Becatoros at http://www.twitter.com/ElenaBec and Kantouris at http://twitter.com/CostasKantouris

Protesters throw a petrol bomb against riot police during clashes in Athens, Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Hundreds of youths attacked police in Greece's two largest cities, hurling rocks and petrol bombs, following large and peaceful marches to mark the anniversary of the 1973 crackdown on a student uprising against the military dictatorship then ruling Greece. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press
Greek police officers in riot gear block off the U.S. Embassy in Athens, during a protest march, Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. More than 10,000 protesters marched Friday to mark the anniversary of the 1973 crackdown on a student uprising against the military dictatorship then ruling Greece. The annual march is often used as a means of expressing displeasure with various government, European and American policies, and often turns violent. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press
University students holding a blood-stained Greek flag from the deadly 1973 student uprising, march past the Greek Parliament, background, in Athens on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Several thousand people march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press
University students hold a blood-stained Greek flag from the deadly 1973 student uprising, in Athens on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Several thousand people march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press
Backdropped by police buses used to block access, demonstrators march in central Athens, Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Several thousand people march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press
Demonstrators, including a Greek army soldier in uniform, centre, march in central Athens, Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Several thousand people march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press
Backdropped by police buses used to block access, demonstrators march in central Athens, Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Several thousand people march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press
Backdropped by the Greek Parliament, left, demonstrators march in central Athens, Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Several thousand people march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press
Protesters throw petrol bombs against riot police during clashes in Athens, Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Hundreds of youths attacked police in Greece's two largest cities, hurling rocks and petrol bombs, following large and peaceful marches to mark the anniversary of the 1973 crackdown on a student uprising against the military dictatorship then ruling Greece. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press
Protesters walk past a burning barricade during clashes with riot police in Athens, Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Hundreds of youths attacked police in Greece's two largest cities, hurling rocks and petrol bombs, following large and peaceful marches to mark the anniversary of the 1973 crackdown on a student uprising against the military dictatorship then ruling Greece. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press
Tear gas fired by police billows as protesters gather around burning barricades during clashes in Athens, Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Hundreds of youths attacked police in Greece's two largest cities, hurling rocks and petrol bombs, following large and peaceful marches to mark the anniversary of the 1973 crackdown on a student uprising against the military dictatorship then ruling Greece. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press
Tear gas fired by police billows in the sky as protesters run to throw petrol bombs against riot police during clashes in Athens, Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Hundreds of youths attacked police in Greece's two largest cities, hurling rocks and petrol bombs, following large and peaceful marches to mark the anniversary of the 1973 crackdown on a student uprising against the military dictatorship then ruling Greece. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press
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