Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-05-06

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Two policemen injured in chase of armed robbers

[02] Shock over death of three in bank torching

[03] EU report on economy

[04] ASE opening: Rise

[01] Two policemen injured in chase of armed robbers

According to initial reports, four armed robbers stormed the ELTA Post Office branch in Zevgolatio shortly after 10:00 a.m. and grabbed an unknown amount of money, and fled in a stolen car which they later abandoned for a second getaway car.

A police search located the second car in the village of Koutsomyti, Nemea.

When the robbers spotted the police, they stopped the car and one of the gunmen got out, firing with a kalashnikov against the patrol car, injuring one officer in the shoulder blade and a second officer in the leg.

The gunmen managed to escape, and a manhunt was launched for them.

[02] Shock over death of three in bank torching

The victims, two women and a man, died from asphyxiation after the bank's storefront windows were smashed and firebombs tossed inside. According to a fire brigade bulletin, a group of mostly youthful rioters, which had infiltrated the large protest march passing by bank, threw the firebombs at the building.

Self-styled anti-state youth often take advantage of protests and demonstrations in the country to engage in vandalism and clash with riot police.

Fire-fighters located the bodies of the three bank employees on the third floor. A total of eight people had been trapped in the flames and smoke.

The bank was identified as a Marfin Egnatia branch, located on 23 Stadiou boulevard.

The leadership of Greek Police (EL.AS) ordered all relevant services to review traffic camera footage and all related evidence in order to find the perpetrators.

[03] EU report on economy

The EU's executive said it expected a deep economic recession in Greece this year with -4.0 pct contraction in 2010 followed by a 2.5 pct contraction in 2011 and returning to positive growth rates from 2012.

Presenting the report, EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said the report did not take into account a package of measures included in an agreement between the Greek government, the EU and the IMF. Rehn predicted, however, that economic recession would be around the same levels despite the new measures, while he predicted that inflation would exceed 3.0 pct this year, falling to 2 pct of the workforce in 2011, while unemployment would total 12 pct in 2010, surpassing 13 pct in 2013.

Economic activity in the country is set to lose further steam, due to a number of factors, in particular worsening business and consumer confidence, the developments in financial markets and the implementation of an appropriately restrictive fiscal policy.

[04] ASE opening: Rise

Individual sector indices were moving mostly upward, with the biggest gains in Financial Services, up 2.75 percent; and Banks, up 2.73 percent.

The biggest losses were in Personal & Household Goods, down 0.97 percent; and Rood & Beverage, down 0.51 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 1.49 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 0.90 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 0.94 percent.

Of the stocks traded, 65 were up, 18 were down, and 16 were unchanged.

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