CRETE, Greece — Weekend protests over a newly opened NATO facility on the island of Crete prompted U.S. Navy officials to shut their gates and place the city of Chania off limits to personnel stationed at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay.

The gates to the base and nearby Marathi Pier facility were closed Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Access to the base and pier was restricted to emergency and mission-essential personnel. The city was off-limits to U.S. personnel from Friday to Monday.

Navy officials said around 300 protesters walked and drove to the Marathi Pier facility, near NATO’s Maritime Interdiction Operation Training Center.

The marchers also opposed U.S. involvement in Iraq, according to base officials.