More than 2,000 police officers will be patrolling Thessaloniki today to ensure that public protests planned to coincide with the city’s annual International Fair, and the traditional keynote address by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, do not get out of hand.

Although police are expecting vehement protests, with public discontent having been aggravated by recent fires, they said they would try to avoid heavy handed tactics.

“We want to avoid the use of tear gas but this will depend on whether there is any illegal activity,” Greek Police Chief Anastassios Dimoschakis said.

Thessaloniki prosecutor Vassilis Floridis appealed to both police and protesters to avoid violence. “We shall not tolerate petrol bombs but police should also refrain from using chemicals,” he said.

Floridis has reportedly called on police to enter universities in the event that violent protesters try to elude arrest by seeking refuge there. Dimoschakis did not clarify whether police would take such action, which would violate a ban on officers entering universities without special permission.

Thessaloniki’s union of police staff has said it will videotape the protests outside the fair, which are being organized by the main labor union GSEE and civil servants’ union ADEDY. The Communist Party (KKE) slammed the planned measure as “an attempt to terrorize citizens and curb democratic and trade union freedoms.”

Workers are protesting the high cost of living and what they view as an unfair tax policy.

Workers’ action is to coincide with another rally by police officers protesting alleged government interference in trade union activities. Officers from the Thessaloniki union are boycotting the police rally.