Greek riot police walk past a fire during clashes with soccer fans in Thessaloniki September 8, 2006. Greek police fired tear gas against hundreds of soccer fans who hurled rocks and flares at an event attended by the prime minister in the northern city of Thessaloniki.[Reuters]

Supporters of the PAOK Thessaloniki club hurled flares and rocks at police outside the conference center in this northern Greek city as Karamanlis arrived.

About 5,000 protesters chanting "Free PAOK" gathered to demand government intervention to rescue the near-bankrupt club from financial ruin.

There were no immediate reports of arrests or injuries.

Some 3,000 police have been deployed in Thessaloniki for weekend protests, which are due to include several large rallies Saturday, including marches organized by Greece's largest unions and anti-globalization groups