The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-12-12

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Minister of Employment's Visit to Prosecutor OEK Case to Supreme Court

By Athina Saloustrou

This morning, Minister of Employment Panos Panagiotopoulos visited Supreme Court Vice Prosecutor Charalabos Maglaras on the issue of President of the Workers Housing Organisation (OEK) Aggelos Oikonomopoulos. As the Minister said, the controversial letter by businessman Prodromos Emfietzoglou was not sent to him or Maximos Mansion. In closing, Mr Panagiotopoulos stated that after 20 months of New Democracys governance, its members are being evaluated. Mr Oikonomopoulos is expected to make statements on the issue of his resignation at noon.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[02] At an ELTA Branch Strong Blast in Syntagma Sq.

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: NET, ANA

AA strong explosion occurred at 6:10am at the intersection of Mitropoleos and Nikis Streets, at an ELTA branch, at Syntagma Square. A fire broke out immediately and vast damage occurred both in the ELTA branch and neighbouring buildings and cars. Two persons were lightly injured by broken glass, while the surrounding area has been closed off by police forces. Buildings windows were damaged due to the severity of the explosion wave. A warning phone call by an unidentified man was made beforehand to Eleftherotypia newspaper, announcing that an explosion would occur near the Ministry of Economy, but did not claim responsibility on the account of an organisation. Policemen rushed to the scene and cleared off the people at the scene. The force of the blast was extremely strong since it has heard in Pangrati. Traffic has been banned towards Mitropoleos Street, while the bomb squad are at the scene collecting the debris from the explosive device.

Statements of Eyewitnesses

As per statements of eyewitnesses, at 5am, two young men parked a delivery motorbike with a time bomb in its metal box, which exploded, at the ELTA branch.

The Fire Services Investigative Unit estimated that the device was not connected to the propane gas bottles, which were at the specific spot all night and used by areas stores.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: 'Bomb blast' rocks Athens square

CNN: Explosion rocks central Athens

Reuters: Blast at central Athens post office: police

Guardian: Explosion Damages Buildings in Athens

[03] Many Birds Found Dead New H5 Cases in Romania

By Athina Saloustrou

In Romania, two new cases of bird flu were reconfirmed in Buzau province, where many birds were found dead during the past few days. "Results of tests on the dead animals confirm the presence of H5 virus in Padina and Braiesti. These two villages are the first in Bazau province to manifest bird flu cases," said veterinary official Gabriel Predoi. The two villages are located near Braila, where five cases of the bird flu have been reported.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[04] Over the Incompetence of the Court 17N Trial: Motion Filed Anew

By Athina Saloustrou

Today, in the 17N trial at the Three-Member Appeals Court, Dimitris Koufodinas attorney, Ioanna Kourtovic filed a motion over the incompetence of the court, with the rationale that the defendants acts fall under the notion of a political crime. As per the attorney, the law on organised crime is unconstitutional, since the jurisdiction of trial for political crimes lies on Multi-Member Courts. "The specific constitutional arrangement was historic, based on the principle of peoples sovereignty and protected the political criminal from the vengeance of the authority it had doubted," said Mrs Kourtovic. The attorney also stated that the accused are deprived of a natural judge, while noting, "We will not accept the term terrorism." Earlier on, the attorney repeated the position of her client, who accepts his participation in the organisation, takes the political responsibility of his acts, which he supports, in the organisation, but does not accept the extent of criminal proceedings for the accusations. Moreover, she stated that Koufodinas will not voice his positions on the events and will not give details on the organisations actions. "He will not refer to where he participated in, nor will he attempt to persuade where he didnt," said Mrs Kourtovic. The procedure is continuing.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Evidence on Keys Accepted

Without Cameras

[05] From 11am to 4pm No Transport

By Vivian Papastefanou

An ordeal is in store for passengers, as the week is starting with a five-hour work stoppage, from 11am to 4pm, by the employees of Public Means of Transport, due to the submission of the DEKO bill to Parliament on Tuesday. The employees will rally at Omonoia Square on 12pm, and following will march to the Ministry of Economy and Parliament. On Wednesday, GSEE and ADEDY have announced a 24-hour strike, while DEKO and Public Means of Transport employees will strike on Friday, when GSEE has announced a 24-hour work stoppage. In particular, on Thursday, only the metro and trains will operate from 11am to 6pm to facilitate persons who will participate at the rally in Pedion tou Areos, at 1pm.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Entering a Week of Strikes

[06] Dousing Millions of Litres of Foam Extinguishing has Started

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: BBC, CNN, Reuters, ANA

The extinguishing of the large fire that broke out when consecutive blasts took place in a fuel depot, 40 km north of London, has started. The Fire Brigade is continuously dousing foam aimed at covering the flames, which will put out the source, as a spokesperson of the Hertfordshire police said. An example of the size of the fire is the statement of the local Fire Service chief, who said "this is the biggest type of the fire, which has broke out in Europe in a time of peace." At the depots of the Total and Texaco companies, 150,000 tonnes of fuel were stored, while until Sunday night, the efforts of the fire fighters are directed at preventing the spread of fire. It is noted, that 43 persons were injured by the three explosions, a fact which the police described as "a miracle," taking into account the size of the destruction.

Important problems have been created in the transport of vehicles, since the M1 motorway the central road artery connecting London with northern Great Britain will remain closed for several days, for security reasons, and will only be used by rescue crews.

As per estimations by the Fire Brigade, the fire will need a whole day for its complete extinguishing. Around 250,000 litres of condensed foam have been transferred to the area, which is being mixed with water from a nearby channel, in order to produce millions of litres of liquid for extinguishing.

Approximately 2,000 persons evacuated their homes, but many returned, while the Authorities have advised them to avoid transport. The explosion wave damaged many neighbouring residences.

Up to the moment, the cause of the explosions has not been made known, since the experts investigations will begin only when access to the scene will be completely safe. It is noted that the Fire Brigade, regardless of the measures taken, do not rule out the event of other explosions taking place.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Clues destroyed as inferno rages

Reuters: British fire crews to battle oil depot blaze

Related News:

Blasts near London

[07] Four Persons Dead Explosion Targets Anti-Syrian MP

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: Reuters, AFP

On Monday, police and eyewitnesses said that a car bomb attack took place in an industrial suburb, mainly inhabited by Christians, in eastern Beirut, resulting in the death of four persons and the injuring of at least 10. Among the dead is MP and journalist Gibran Tueni, known for his anti-Syrian beliefs. As per the Authorities, the attack was targeted at the vehicle of the 48-year-old MP, who at the time was passing through the neighbourhood of Mekallis. Many cars caught on fire, while stores and buildings in the area were damaged. Meanwhile, policemen and soldiers have closed off the broader area. It is noted that later in the day, the Security Council is expected to receive the UN report on Hariris death. Minister of Telecommunications and Tuenis uncle, Marwan Hamadeh and Lebanese politician Walid Jumblat accused Syria over the bomb attack, an event that Damascus denied.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Beirut bomb 'kills anti-Syria MP'

CNN: Car bomb kills four in Beirut

[08] Valuable Win for Panionios

By Stathis Petropoulos

The passion and the willingness to win made Panionios players perform better than Atromitos. They could not do otherwise, though, since the teams future in this years championship is deemed rather gloomy. Panionios had some chances to open the score in the first half, but it finally ended with a goalless tie. In the rerun, however, the home side managed to take the lead, despite the fact that Atromitos seemed capable of balancing the game. In the 65, Makos of the home side scored the first goal for his team. Since then, Atromitos appeared unable to react and balance the game. The final 2-0 score was achieved in the extra time with a penalty kick by Fernantes.

PANIONIOS: Vaniak, Lazaridis, Smiljanic, Goundoulakis (46 Sheppard), Langer, Makos, Fernantes, Magdy, Mitrou (79 Exouzidis), Nalitzis, Breska.

ATROMITOS: Mihailidis, Katemis (79 Dimou), Georgiou (Raguel), Geladaris, Dagas (77 Pappas), Mikes, Koutsis, Petkov, Korakakis, Karadimos, Skarmoutsos.

Translated by Areti Christou

[09] By ET1 and Unicef for the Children of Pakistan Telethon for the Children

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Today, Monday, December 12, Unicef and ET1 call on all of us to actively participate in the telethon for the victims of the deadly earthquake on October 8, in Pakistan, which left behind it thousands of dead and million of homeless. The telethon will begin on 4pm and will be presented by journalists: Bilio Tsoukala, Prokopis Doukas, Giorgos Amyras and Renia Tsitsibikou. Many guests and popular artists will join them, while hundreds of radio and television networks will support the effort. In order to make your donation in the telethon please call 210-33 62 800.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related Links:

UNICEF

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article