The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-05-02

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Each to his work Great Return Begins

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: NET 105.8

Allied with the good weather, Easter holidaymakers are gradually starting to return to towns and cities across Greece, under close observation by traffic police. This means that there is heavy policing at dangerous points on motorways, while from 3pm to 11pm, lorries over 1.5 tonnes are not permitted to travel on motorways. Traffic police advise drivers to keep strictly to the Highway Code, to wear seatbelts, for motorcyclists to wear helmets and for all to refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol. In the meantime, there is a great deal of traffic on the Athens-Lamia motorway and already at Malliako, there are long queues of cars measuring several hundred metres. This point is considered to be one of the most dangerous on the national road network, and for this reason traffic cameras are in operation. There is a large number of people at Eleftherios Venizelos airport and regional airports.

This year, more travellers than ever left the cities, using all means of transport available. Ships were at 100% capacity, while trains and coaches have made additions to their schedules.

Translated by Millie Williams

[02] Reassurance from seismologists Seismic Activity in Heraklion

By Despina Hristopoulou

Sources: NET

Yesterday, the residents of Heraklion on Crete were shaken, as at 23:42, there was seismic activity measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was 350 kilometres SW of Athens, in the SE region of the Prefecture of Heraklion on Crete. The quake was not at a great depth and was especially felt in Heraklion and the wider region. As the residents reported, it lasted for about three seconds, while it was accompanied by a sound. By 7am a further six aftershocks were also felt. No damage has been reported, while just a few houses suffered superficial cracks. Seismologists are reasuuring and stress that it is quite an ordinary occurrence.

Translated by Millie Williams

[03] Funerary ceremony in Chalandri Geramanis' Funeral Tomorrow

By Despina Hristopoulou

The funeral of the well-loved journalist Panos Geramanis, who breathed his last on Easter Saturday in his country house in Parga with a heart attack, will be held in his place of origin, Vasilika Evia. A sung funerary service will be held in the Church of Aghios Nikolaos in Chalandri at 12. Panos Geramanis, a well-loved colleague who paid tribute to the journalistic profession, died at the age of 59. He has left behind a great legacy, especially because of his contribution to Greek folk music and rembetika, which he especially promoted through his programme "Laiki Vardi" (Popular Folk Singers) and in publishing books on well-known singers. In fact, composer Mikis Theodorakis said of him that "he should be glad because with his writings and voice he contributed to the spreading and understanding of a type of music that had been cast to the sidelines." He received awards for his long-term contribution to journalism, his research and study of folk music and sport.

A Few words on Geramanis

Panos Geramanis He was born in Vasiliko, Chalkida in December 1945. He entered journalism at the age of 17, initially as a sports journalist for the newspaper Fos ton Sport, while in 1964, he started publishing the local newspaper Agrotiki Foni tis Chalkidas (Rural Voice of Chalkida), He worked as a reporter and chief editor for some of the countrys biggest newspapers. He worked for the Apogevmatini from 1968-1971, for the Acropoli until 1981, for Ethnos from 1981 to 1986, Kerdos 1986-1987. His last stop in printed journalism was the newspaper Ta Nea, where since 1987 his column on good folk tavernas had stood out. In the sports pages he talked of old footballers and teams.

He started his career in radio in 1989, when he worked for the radio station 902 Left FM, while he had worked for Hellenic Radio since 1990.

Translated by Millie Williams

Related News:

Panos Geramanis Passed Away

[04] New suicide attack in Iraq No End to Cycle of Blood

By Despina Hristopoulou

There is no end to the violence and bloodshed in Iraq. Late yesterday afternoon, as broadcast on Al Arabiya television network, a suicide attack cost the lives of 25 people and injured a further 30, while today a double attack in Baghdad resulted in the deaths of four people, injuring 11. Yesterdays attack took place in the city of Talafar, near Mosul, in northern Iraq. As announced by the spokesman of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan (PDK), and governor of the region, Husru Khuran, a suicide bomber, who was travelling in a Chevrolet car packed with explosives, drove into a crowd attending the funeral of Taleb Sied Wahba, a PDK official, who was murdered in Mosul on Saturday. Following this, two armed men closed off the road to ambulances that rushed to the area to help the victims of the attack. Consequently, clashes broke out between the police and the armed gang.

Double Attack in Baghdad

Today, two cars packed with explosives detonated in Baghdad, killing at least four people. According to the police, the first bomb blew up in the Hurriya district of northwestern Baghdad as a convoy carrying deputy general Fuleih Rashid, commander of units of Iraqi police commandos, was passing, injuring three of Rashids bodyguards. The second attack took place in the densely-populated district of Karada in southern Baghdad, outside a shop selling electrical goods, killing at least four passers-by and injuring eight. This explosion caused damage to a block of flats and at least 10 cars

Australian Hostage

In the meantime, yesterday evening, a video of another hostage, of Australian origin, has been aired.

In the two-minute-long video, the blond man says his name is Douglas Wood, he is 63 years old and lives in California, married to an American. The hostage appeals to the US, Australian and British authorities to withdraw from Iraq.

"I dont want to die," he declares in the video, in which he is shown sitting on the floor between two armed, masked men.

The authenticity of the video has yet to be confirmed by the Iraqi or other authorities.

In the meantime, Australian PM John Howard stressed that the government of Australia is not prepared to withdraw its troops from Iraq. Howard stated on an Australian radio station that "we will continue to do what we can, keeping to our position of not giving in to terrorist demands. We cannot allow the foreign policy of this country to be dictated by terrorists, but we despite that we will do what we can to help this unfortunate man." He also added that a special team has been set up to deal with the crisis, although he refused to reveal any details of its action.

In the next few weeks, about 450 additional Australian soldiers are expected to arrive in Iraq, increasing the total number of Australian soldiers to about 1400. 50% of Australian citizens are opposed to this move, considering that Australian soldiers should not be sent to Iraq..

In the meantime, as stated yesterday by Muwafak al-Rubaye, national security advisor in Iraq, the coalition forces are likely to start withdrawal in mid 2006.

Translated by Millie Williams

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