Chaos broke out in the Greek city of Thessaloniki on Saturday night when a group of anarchists hurled Molotov cocktails at riot police.

The violence occurred after thousands of citizens marched through the centre of Thessaloniki to mark the 45th anniversary of the deadly crackdown on the 1973 student uprising.

Towards the end of the march, a group of hooded anarchists began to set fire to rubbish bins and throw Molotov cocktails at police who responded with tear gas and stun grenades.

The anniversary of the student uprising is marked every year with marches and protesters use the occasion to voice their anger at a range of Greek, European and US policies.

Greece: Firebomb chaos at streets as protesters hurl molotov cocktails at police on 45th Polytechnic uprising anniversary. Thousands of Greek citizens marched across the center of Thessaloniki on Saturday night to mark the 45th anniversary of the uprising that led to the restoration of democracy in the country after the military junta of 1967-1974. The demonstration ended in major clashes between anarchists and anti-riot police forces, at Thessaloniki University and around streets. Hooded protesters set fire to garbage containers and threw molotov cocktails at police who responded with tear gas and stun grenade.

Forty-five years have passed since the Athens Polytechnic uprising of November 1973 that escalated to a massive demonstration of popular rejection of the military junta.

With the slogan "Freedom to the people, death to fascism", thousand protesters -- families, anti-racist organizations, refugees, student associations, parties, organizations of the Left, unions and collectives -- condemned fascism and Nazism.

"Forty-five years after the students rose up against the junta, the month of November continues to move and inspire us. It reminds us that nothing is given but also that nothing is impossible," Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in his message marking the anniversary.

"It also charges us with the responsibility to keep our ears open to the needs and concerns of the younger generation of this country, which has always been on the front line of the major changes that lead forward," he noted.