Athens, Greece (CNN) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed solidarity with Greece Tuesday on a trip to Athens, even as tens of thousands of Greeks rallied to show their anger toward her over the hardship their country is suffering. Critics see Merkel as the main enforcer of the European Union-imposed austerity measures that have left a large number of Greeks unemployed and streaming to soup kitchens for a hot meal. Police estimated that as many as 25,000 people turned out to demonstrate in central Athens, despite a ban on protests in certain areas amid beefed-up security for Merkel's six-hour stay.
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NEW: President Papoulias says growth and jobs are needed to give the Greek people hope
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"We welcome a friend here today," Antonis Samaras says of the German leader
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Police say 25,000 people joined a protest voicing anger over Angela Merkel's visit
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Critics see Merkel as the main enforcer of internationally imposed austerity measures
While some within her own governing coalition have spoken of the need for contingency plans for a possible @placeholder exit from the euro, Merkel has signaled that she would view that outcome as extremely risky.