Some 6,000 miners, administrative staff and their families protested through the streets of central Athens on Thursday in support of the controversial Skouries gold mine investment in northern Greece.

Miners and supporters demanded that the leftist Greek government allow the mine, whose concession is owned by the Canadian multinational Eldorado Gold, to operate unhindered.

Opponents charge that the mine poses an environment threat to a pristine and tourism-developed region of northern Greece, i.e. eastern Halkidiki prefecture, while other critics claim the concession is financially unsatisfactory for the Greek state.

Conversely, proponents reply that all international and European environmental and security provisions are being followed, while the investment is advantageous for both the local and national economies.

Protesters made their way through central Athens, rallying outside ministries and even demanding that PM Alexis Tsipras meet a delegation of workers to offer guarantees that their jobs will not be threatened.

A delegation of protesters also presented a resolution to the Canadian embassy in Athens, calling on the Canadian government to defend the investment of its multinational in Greece.

Up until recently, most of the street protests and rallies, even outside the complex, were held by opponents.