Athens locked down for Independence Day

An annual student parade in Athens marks Independence Day in Greece, as the education minister watches from a grandstand.

But with anger mounting as anti-austerity measures grip the country, fears of possible violence kept many people away from the normally popular parade.

Greek authorities were taking no chances, with barriers stretching around the one-kilometre long route, and 4,000 police officers and snipers on guard with a further 2,000 on standby.

(SOUNDBITE) (Greek) SPECTATOR, CONSTANTINE, SAYING:

"I believe on one hand it's good because it protects our children, but on the other hand it's rather undemocratic. We are free to go anywhere we want in Athens and the rest of the country. We do have democracy after all."

Overall the mood was calm, though a small group of anti-austerity protesters faced off against police.

Wages, jobs, benefits, and pensions have been slashed in Greece over the past two years, and many people are furious.

The March 25 parade celebrates Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire in the nineteenth century after 400 years of occupation.

Nick Rowlands, Reuters.