Government officials heckled at Polytechnic wreath-laying

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and other high-ranking government officials were heckled on Tuesday as they lay a wreath on a memorial for the November 17, 1973 student uprising against the military dictatorship.

Students and other bystanders shouted anti-government and anti-austerity slogans as the premier deposited a wreath in front of the historic premises of the National Technical University of Athens, then Athens Polytechnic, where a protest by students was violently quashed by the junta regime.

Some scuffles broke out as other members of the public tried to push the protesters off the premises.

The anniversary of the uprising is expected to culminate later in the afternoon with a protest rally to the US Embassy.

Security has been ramped up for the annual event, which is often marked by isolated incidents of violence linked to the capital’s anarchist element.

Streets and metro stations in downtown Athens will be closed as part of the security measures.