Athens, March 3 (RHC)-- Thousands of Greeks have hit the streets in the capital, Athens, for a mass protest rally against EU policies towards refugees mainly coming from the Middle East.  Chanting pro-refugee slogans, the protesters condemned the "imperialist war in the Middle East" and expressed solidarity with refugees arriving in Greece.

Demonstrators rallied outside EU offices in Athens before heading to the U.S. embassy.  They held banners reading: "NATO, USA, European Union governments create wars, poverty, uprooting" and "Refugees welcome."

Police forces were deployed in large numbers outside the U.S. embassy, however, no clashes were reported and the rally developed peacefully.