Despite a police ban on student demonstrations marching towards the Greek Parliament, thousands of high school students staged a massive protest march through the streets of the capital, Athens, on Friday (12 December).

The students, supported by youth organisations from most Greek political parties, began the march with a large meeting held in front of the Polytechnic School of Athens.

Many of the student speakers at the meeting told the large crowd of young people that the Government's education policy amounted to "fascism".

One of the speakers told the cheering crowd, "we shall fight the new fascist terrorism".

The meeting, although loud and enthusiastic, was allowed to continue by the police who kept watch on the proceedings from a distance.

However, when the students attempted to march towards the Greek Parliament they were confronted by armoured cars and helmeted police cordons.

Student leaders and senior police officers held hurried negotiations as the mass of the students became more agitated, and began chanting and hurling abuse at the police.

After speaking with the police, student leaders persuaded the demonstrators to march instead to Constitutional Square.

SYNOPSIS: The Polytechnic School in Athens was the meeting place for thousands of Greek students on Friday. The students were protesting against a police ban on demonstrations heading towards the Greek Parliament. The demonstrators were addressed by student leaders.

Later the students, chanting anti-government slogans, marched towards the Greek Parliament.

Up to this point the police had kept a low profile, watching the demonstration from a distance.

However, once the students had made it clear where they were headed the police blocked their path. Senior police officers spoke to the leaders of the demonstration and there were hurried negotiations. While the talks were taking place the demonstrators became agitated and began chanting anti-police slogans.

After speaking with the police the student leaders persuaded the demonstrators to march towards the Athens Constitutional Square. There the students held another rally, condemning the Government's education policy. One speaker said "We will fight the new fascist terrorism".