Athens - Thousands of police were deployed in central Athens Tuesday for an annual march commemorating the anniversary of a student uprising against the military dictatorship that once ruled Greece.

More than 7,000 riot police and undercover officers will guard the streets in downtown Athens and another 2,000 in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki.

The streets in downtown Athens have been cordoned off and shops, banks and government offices closed early ahead of the march which in past years has triggered disturbance by self-styled anarchists.

Officials fear this year's march from the Polytechnic University towards the American Embassy could turn violent following the police shooting last December of a teenager, which sparked the worst riots the country has seen in decades.

Since the December 6 shooting, Greece has been plagued by frequent bombings, police shootings and arson attacks targeting banks and multinational businesses.

Every year students conduct the march from the Polytechnic University in both Athens and Thessaloniki to the American embassy to protest Washington's support at the time of the military junta.

Dozens of students are reported to have died when tanks crushed the pro-democracy uprising in front of the Polytechnic University in 1973. (dpa)