Athens set for anniversary of fatal police shooting

More than 6,000 police will be on the streets of Athens this weekend as the city marks the first anniversary of the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy.

The teenager's death at the hands of police in December last year sparked Greece's worst riots in decades.

In the run-up to the anniversary, dozens of schools and university campuses have been occupied by students preparing to mark the uprising.

Greece's government says it will have a zero tolerance policy towards violence.

"We want to send a clear message, we won't tolerate a repeat of the violence and terror scene in central Athens, we won't hand Athens to vandals," said Citizen Protection Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis.

Memorial service

Family and friends of teenager Alexandros Grigoropoulos will hold a memorial service on Sunday to mark a year since his killing.

They have appealed for calm, but posters have appeared in the capital saying: "We won't forget, we won't forgive."

Police said they expect about 150 foreign anarchists to arrive this weekend from Italy, France and other European countries.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has acknowledged that the weekend is a "crucial moment" for his new socialist government and for the nation.

"All of us, citizens, political leaders, parties, students representatives, we must protect Athens," he said.

Shop owners in the Greek capital are braced for trouble although some believe it will not be as bad as last year.

"Like all other shops on this street, we have put [up] steel shutters," said Athens music store manager George Stouraitis.

"But I don't think anything major will happen this year because the government is still young."

The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, says police hope to repeat the success they had with an annual demonstration two weeks ago which normally ends in violence.

Officers managed to contain trouble by briefly detaining 300 youngsters, he says.

Two police officers have been charged with the murder and attempted murder of Alexandros Grigoropoulos and their trial is due to begin in the New Year.