ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece's new socialist government will deploy 6,000 police onto the streets of Athens tomorrow to avert a repeat of the severe rioting last year that hit the capital and major cities.

Anarchists and students have planned protests across the country to mark the first anniversary of the December 6 killing of a teenage boy which unleashed Greece's worst riots in decades, fuelled by anger about economic hardships.

Over several weeks thousands of people clashed with police last year, destroying shops, attacking public buildings and burning cars, causing hundreds of millions of euros of damages.

"We want to send a clear message, we won't tolerate a repeat of the violence and terror scene in central Athens, we won't hand Athens to vandals," Citizen Protection Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis told reporters yesterday.

Tomorrow's demonstrations will include a march and a memorial service at a makeshift shrine in central Athens.

Local media reported that across the country about 30 university buildings, a no-go area for police under Greek law, have been occupied by students ahead of the anniversary.

"We won't forget, we won't forgive" read posters in the capital.

Late on Thursday, about 50 Greek anarchists hurled stones at police and damaged a car hours after a demonstration.

Analysts said they did not expect protests to be as violent this year despite a worsening of economic hardships, as the government was still young. Police largely contained violence at an annual November 17 march, usually marred by worse clashes.

Police said more than 6,000 policemen will patrol the main streets of Athens and the bohemian district of Exarchia, were 15-year old Alexandros Grigoropoulos was shot dead.

Greek police expect about 150 foreign anarchists to arrive this weekend from Italy, France and other European countries.

Business owners in Athens, who were hard hit by the 2008 unrest, braced for trouble again but most believed it would not be as bad as last year.

"Like all other shops on this street, we have put steel shutters now, but I don't think anything major will happen this year because the government is still young," said George Stouraitis, 35, manager of a record shop in central Athens. His store was destroyed and looted in last year's riots.

Prime Minister George Papandreou, elected on Oct. 4 on a promise to boost the economy and help the poor, urged people to demonstrate peacefully.

"In a crucial moment for our country, all of us, citizens, political leaders, parties, students representatives, we must protect Athens," he said on Thursday. (Editing and additional reporting by Ingrid Melander) ((renee.maltezouzreuters.com; +30 210 3376439, Reuters Messaging:renee.maltezou.reuters.comzreuters.net))

REUTERS