Greece has deployed thousands of police officers to Athens to prevent violence during an annual protest march Thursday.

The march to the U.S. embassy is expected to include demonstrators upset over the new interim government's austerity measures.

The demonstrations come a day after the government overwhelmingly won a vote of confidence in a parliamentary vote.

The parliamentary vote supports efforts by new Prime Minister Lucas Papademos to impose unpopular spending cuts and tax increases, austerity measures demanded by the country's international creditors in exchange for more outside funding for the government.

Mr. Papademos is specifically tasked with getting parliament to approve a new bailout deal with the European Union. Greek officials warn the country faces bankruptcy without the new funding — an $11 billion installment of last year's bailout.

Thursday's protest march marks the 38th anniversary of the student revolt that led to the downfall of military dictatorship in Greece in 1973.