Athens University of Economics and Business

Rectors representing the country’s largest universities on Wednesday appealed to the government to take immediate action to relieve operational problems at the institutions that have been caused by troika-mandated funding cuts, a rash of student transfers to the big universities and staff cutbacks.

A massive security operation is being mounted in central Athens for the 41st anniversary of the 1973 bloody student uprising against the military dictatorship.

Police used stun grenades and tear gas in central Athens on Thursday night to disperse students protesting the decision to close universities in the capital several days ahead of the anniversary of the bloody November 17 uprising against the junta at Athens Polytechnic in 1973.