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U.S. Marines arrive at Litohoro, Greece RELATED VIDEO Go on the beach in Greece, where the Marines landed on their way to Macedonia. CNN's Jeff Flock is there. (June 10) Windows Media 28K 80K  ALSO: Yugoslavia agrees to withdraw forces from Kosovo Belgrade celebrates agreement Text of Kosovo military technical agreement Timetable for Kosovo transition Clinton to Belgrade: We will be watching Cautious optimism heard around the world Pristina residents weary of war, wary of peace  IMAGE GALLERY: Marines land in Greece

June 10, 1999
Web posted at: 1:30 a.m. EDT (0530 GMT)

LITOHORO, Greece (CNN) -- The first wave of 2,200 U.S. Marines bound for Macedonia as potential Kosovo peacekeepers came ashore in northern Greece early Thursday.

Greek riot police were on hand to monitor the beach, where 300 mostly communist protesters had gathered earlier. Large anti-NATO banners were left behind, including one that read, "Killers Go Home."

The deployment follows several days of delay. The Greek government, fearing an escalation of NATO protests, demanded that a peace agreement be signed before any U.S. Marines hit the beach.

The first Marines came off the USS Grunston Hall, one of three ships carrying members of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

About 30 minutes after the initial arrival, a gigantic Hovercraft, known as the Landing Craft Air Cushion, or LCAC, scooted across the water and onto the beach, unloading vehicles and other heavy equipment.

More LCACs followed shortly afterward. When all the Marines have landed, they will travel some 175 miles (280 km) across northern Greece to Macedonia.

Military officials told CNN that it would take about 2 1/2 days for the Marines and equipment to reach Macedonia.

Task Force Hawk, the force that includes Apache Attack helicopters currently in Albania, is to join the Marines at Camp Able Sentry in Macedonia.

At the camp Thursday morning, Blackhawk helicopters swooped in, kicking up dust as they landed. Soon afterward, two Chinook helicopters arrived.

The current plan is for the U.S. troops to join up with 500 Italian paratroopers, and for that combined force of 2,400 to take control of the town of Gnjilane in southeast Kosovo.

The Marines and Italian troops will be replaced by 7,000 soldiers from the U.S. Army's First Infantry Division. Those troops will fly in from Germany, while their equipment is brought in through Greece and Macedonia.

NATO sources say under plans drawn up earlier this year, U.S. troops will be assigned to patrol the eastern zone of Kosovo

Great Britain -- with a force of 20,000 troops -- will take control of the central zone, including the provincial capital Pristina. France will control the west, Italy the north, and Germany the south.

Correspondent Jamie McIntyre and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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