Tsipras both hero and villain ahead of Greece bailout referendum
Thousands hold rival rallies, with the prime minister urging the people to say 'No', insisting that will strengthen his hand in talks with creditors
A warrior for the "No" supporters, an "emperor with no clothes" for the "Yes" camp - thousands of people demonstrated at rival rallies in Athens where Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was both hero and villain.
More than 25,000 Greeks gathered in the shadow of the parliament for the "No" rally while another 22,000 people filled a square in front of a nearby stadium, ahead of Sunday's bailout referendum to determine the country's financial future.
"I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to be afraid, I'm going to say 'No'!" chanted Tsipras supporters as they descended on Syntagma square - the scene of violent anti-austerity riots in the past.
Tsipras, wearing a crisp white shirt and walking with a swagger, was escorted from the prime minister's office to the square by 200 or so supporters, who cheered and whooped as the world's media looked on.
Addressing the crowd, he called on Greeks to vote "No" so the country could "live with dignity in Europe".
"This is not a protest. It is a celebration to overcome fear and blackmail," he told a crowd of 30,000 as they roared - "no, no."
His speech was the highlight, but the punters stayed for the live concert: heaving crowds of mainly youngsters, families and unemployed people swaying in time to popular songs from left-wing Greek performers.
"We want to be our own bosses, we want to decide for ourselves," said 51-year-old teacher Katerina.
"The [austerity] measures we were forced to take have made the situation worse," she said, as Tsipras's closest adviser Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis signed autographs for children in the crowd.
Athens resident Maria Antoniou held a handmade sign, reading "oxi".
"We have to strengthen Tsipras. It's not his fault we are bankrupt," she said.
The prime minister has urged Greeks to say "No", insisting it will strengthen his hand in negotiations with the country's creditors - but EU leaders have warned the vote is essentially on whether or not to stay in the euro zone.
It's an idea that has spooked "Yes" voters, who fewer than 800 metres away were holding a rather more sedate rally of their own, complete with pro-Europe banners and Greek and European flags.
On a leafy avenue in front of the Panathenaic Stadium, protesters including entrepreneurs, chefs and lawyers said "enough" to Tsipras.
"They cannot pretend any longer that it's not about leaving the euro … and outside the euro lies only misery," said Nikos, 43, a doctor who was proudly wearing a white and green "NAI" (yes) T-shirt and munching a freshly roasted cob of sweetcorn from a street stand.
Greek pop music blared from speakers and young people in shirts and suits, straight from the office, cracked open cans of beer in the last rays of the evening sun.
But many faces were drawn or pinched with anxiety as demonstrators confessed they thought today's referendum was going to be an extremely tight race.
"We know austerity is hard but without sacrifices and demonstrating to others we are willing, we will be cast out and alone," said Mary Papadopoulo, a 37-year-old accountant.
