Thousands of Greeks protest against Macedonia name compromise

Tens of thousands of Greeks staged a mass rally in Athens Sunday, urging the government not to compromise in a festering name row with neighbouring Macedonia.

Protesters from across Greece converged Sunday on Athens' main square outside parliament to protest a potential Greek compromise in a dispute with neighboring Macedonia over the former Yugoslav republic's official name. (Photo | AP) 

Greek Orthodox priests gather at the rally. Organisers claimed some 1.5 million people from across Greece and the Greek diaspora turned out to express their opposition to attempts by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' government to broker a deal. (Photo | AP)

As a huge Greek flag flew over central Syntagma Square from atop a crane, Greeks from all over the country and abroad chanted 'Hands off Macedonia', 'Macedonia is Greek' and 'We won't leave until we are vindicated'. (Photo | AP)

Greek army veterans salute as they sing the national anthem. Among those in the cross-generation crowd were former PM Antonis Samaras -- who was foreign minister when the name row began in 1991 -- in addition to mayors, senior clerics, army officers and monks. (Photo | AP)

Keynote speaker Mikis Theodorakis, the renowned Zorba the Greek composer and resistance icon, called on the government to hold a referendum before taking a decision. (Photo | AP)

Famous Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis waves to the crowd after his speech at a rally in Athens, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018. 'Macedonia was, is and will forever be Greek,' he said. (Photo | AP)

Protesters shout slogans as a boy sits between the Greek flag, right, and the star of Vergina the emblem of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia. Greece considers the name 'Macedonia' to be part of its own cultural heritage, as the province was the core of Alexander the Great's ancient empire. (Photo | AP)