Thousands march through Athens to mark student uprising

Around 25,000 people marched through Athens over the weekend in closely watched demonstrations to mark the 51st anniversary of the pro-democracy uprising that helped topple military rule in Greece.

The protests are held every year to commemorate the 1973 Athens Polytechnic protests that killed 24 people, when the ruling junta sent troops to break up an anti-government uprising.

As the commemoration is often marred by far-left violence on the sidelines, more than 5,500 officers were deployed on Nov. 17.

They were backed by riot squads, drones and helicopters monitoring key locations, including the U.S. and Israeli embassies, police said earlier.

More than 110 people were detained during checks made before the march, according to police sources.

The brutal crackdown on the 1973 student-led, anti-junta demonstrations shocked Europe and is generally considered to have broken the dictatorship's grip on power, leading to the restoration of democracy months later.

The march on Nov. 17 began at the Polytechnic campus headquarters and was fronted by students carrying a bloodstained Greek flag that flew over the Polytechnic's iron gate the night it crushed by a tank. Many protesters also carried Palestinian flags.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized the importance of free parliamentary democracy.

"The message of resistance emanating from the Polytechnic uprising is an enduring symbol of progress which is neither trapped in the past nor sacrificed to party exploitation," he posted on social media.

"That is why, 51 years later, it still shines. To signal loyalty to democracy. Faith in unity. And the prospect of a better life."

Protests were held nationwide, including in the cities of Thessaloniki,...