There is tight security in Athens ahead of a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, her first since the eurozone crisis erupted nearly three years ago.

Some 7,000 police officers are on duty, public gatherings are banned in certain areas of the city and protesters have been warned to "protect the peace".

The visit comes as Greece bids to pass new cuts of 13bn euros (£10.5bn; $17bn) to qualify for more bailout cash.

Analysts say Mrs Merkel is regarded by many Greeks as the author of austerity.

While Germany has contributed the most money in the bailing out of Greece, BBC Europe editor Gavin Hewitt says its chancellor is held responsible for demanding that Greece make swingeing cuts in exchange for the financing it has received.

Ahead of the visit, European Central Bank president Mario Draghi told the European Parliament that Greece had made progress, although "further work" was needed.

Mr Draghi told the parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on Tuesday: "It's quite clear that the progress at the level of undertaking the necessary policy reform has been perceptible and significant and it's also clear that more needs to be done."

'Protect the peace'

There has been growing unrest in Greece at the planned new cutbacks.

Police have banned protests on Tuesday in much of central Athens, and within a 100m radius of the route Mrs Merkel's motorcade will travel, although two (sbobet) planned protests elsewhere in the city will go ahead.

Mrs Merkel is scheduled to arrive at 13:30 local time (10:30 GMT).

She will be in Athens for about six hours, and will have talks with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and President Karolos Papoulias.

The capital is said to be carrying out its biggest security operation in a decade.

Left-wing newspapers on Tuesday encouraged widespread, but non-violent, protests.

A spokesperson for the leftist Syriza party, Yiannis Bournos, told the BBC's Newsday it was expecting huge demonstrations.

"People are frustrated and enraged because they clearly understand that Mrs Merkel's visit is just a theatre play for the political support of a collapsing coalition," Mr Bournos said.