Police on Standby For Merkel Visit to Greece

Anti-austerity protests expected

GREEK police have increased security and are preparing to close down large sections of the capital, Athens, to contain protests during a visit by Germany's Chancellor, Angela Merkel.

Merkel is scheduled in Athens on Tuesday for talks with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

The visit comes amid growing unrest in Greece over planned new cutbacks. Greek authorities, who are struggling to talk bailout creditors into unfreezing a vital loan instalment, are determined to prevent riots while Merkel is in town on her first visit to the country in five years.