Hundreds of citizens of all ages, even small children, have gathered since early on Friday outside the Athens Polytechnic, in order to leave a flower in memory of the people who resisted and fought for democracy.

A march to the American embassy will follow later in the day, in the 50th anniversary since the 1973 Polytechnic uprising against the military junta then ruling Greece, on November 17.

Strong police forces have been deployed across Athens while temporary traffic measures and changes in public transport routes are in force.