The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-02-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Biting Cold and Gale-Force Winds Polar Temperatures

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ANA, NET

Biting cold and gale-force winds coming in from the north are sweeping throughout Greece since Sunday. Northern Greece has been dressed in white, while it is snowing in Attica. The new wave of bad weather has caused traffic problems. Vehicles traveling on the national highway are required to have snow chains installed at the Platamonas junction. Some 316 villages around the state remain snowbound, while settlements in central and southern Euboea have power supply problems. Schools did not open in many parts of the country. Ships bound for the Aegean sea have docked in the ports of Piraeus and Rafina due to gale-force winds, while ferries performing the Kavala-Thasos, Alexandroupoli-Samothraki, Volos-Sporades routes are also docked. Parnithos avenue remains closed from the Zygos tavern onwards to Parnitha, as well as the road from Palia Penteli to Agios Petros, due to the heavy snowfall. Snow chains are necessary for vehicles traveling on Dionysou avenue, on the old Athens-Thebes national highway after the Vilia junction to Kaza, Porto Germeno ans Psatha, from Varybobi to Katsimidi, from the monastery to Dervenochoria, from Agios Merkourios to Malakasa and from Afidnes to Agia Triada and Ippokrateios Politeia. In Kamariotisa, Samothraki, rescue crews are trying to transport a patient, who suffered a major stroke, to hospital, but gales prevent helicopters from arriving at the scene. In Trikala, 38 villages are snowbound, while circulation on the Trikala-Arta national highway has been interrupted from the 52nd to the 75th km. The use of snow chains is imperative around the national and regional road network of the prefecture. In Kozani, temperature dropped to 10 degrees Celsius, while traffic is held with difficulty due to the strong winds. Egnatia Odos remains open, while snow in Florina has exceeded half a meter.

Snow Chains Necessary

Extreme weather conditions in central-western Macedonia are subsiding, while snowfalls have decreased and circulation in most parts of the national and regional road network is held with snow chains.

Schools remain closed in the four prefectures of Western Macedonia for the second day, while snow chains are imperative throughout the national and regional road network, even on Egnatia Odos, from the Prefecture of Imathia to Grevena.

There are no snowbound villages, while no power problems have been reported so far. Central Macedonia is dressed in white, but it stopped snowing in most parts around 08:00. Circulation is held with snow chains.

In Karpenisi, many villages remain snowbound, but no further problems have been reported. The national highway is open, but Authorities advise drivers to install snow chains when traveling to Lamia and Agrinio, while the regional road network remains closed.

The Peloponnese is experiencing extreme weather conditions since last night with snowfalls and low temperatures. Snow chains are necessary around the road network, while according to a police bulletin, 27 villages in Tripoli are snowbound.

By a decision of the Arkadia prefect, schools will not open today at the largest part of the prefecture.

The new wave of bad weather has also caused problems on the mountainous regional network at the prefectures of Achaia, Ilia and Etoloakarnania. In Achaia, the city of Kalavrita has been cut off, as the Patra-Kalavryta and Aigio-Kalavrita roads are closed and there is no access. In the wider Kalavryta and Kleitoria area, 50 villages have been snowbound, while 15 are in the same situation in Chalandritsa. Snow-removal machines are stationed along the regional network trying to open the roads.

In Ilia, some roads are closed because of the snow, while villages in Lasiona and Labeia are faced with problems, because of the extreme weather conditions. Equipped crews are on site to restore traffic and keep the roads open.

In Etoloakarnania, snow-removal machines are constantly working on mountainous Nafpaktia, as well as in Trichonida, Valtos and Oinachos.

In Tripoli, 27 villages have been snowbound, while heavy snowfalls caused problems to the national and regional road network.

By the decision of the Lakonia prefect, schools will remain closed in Pelana, Karies and Oinountes. There will also be no classes in Kastoreio, Sparta, Zamaka and Molaoi.

Thessaloniki is experiencing biting cold with polar temperatures below zero. Frozen snow has caused transport problems and temperature dropped to minus 4 degrees Celsius overnight. Local crews keep removing snow from the roads and throw salt and seawater outside schools, public services and much-frequented places, as layers of ice have been formed due to the low temperatures. Traffic is held with snow chains throughout the mountainous regional road network, while the Chortiatis-Agios Vasileios road remains closed for the third day in a row.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Related News:

Snowfalls in Greece

Related Links:

Hellenic National Meteorological Service

Civil Protection Authority

[02] Reward for Rashness Married on Air!

By Annita Paschalinou

So what if they only knew each other just a few seconds? Craig Copper, 30, and Rebecca Daffy, 28, were joined in holy matrimony on radio, throwing their personal lives up in the air for a house, a car and a honeymoon! Those were the prizes promised to the two bold winners of the game "Two Strangers and a Wedding" by radio station BRMB. The title is quite self-explanatory and describes a contest that rewards rashness. Two strangers get married without ever meeting before, just to win great prizes. Just like in 1999, when it was first aired, the game triggered a torrent of reactions, mainly on the part of the Church. Although members of the clergy argued that it offends the marriage institution, the organisers are claiming the opposite, i.e. that it reinforces it. Just for the record, the couple that was married in 1999 got divorced three months later. They had won a trip to the Bahamas, though, which was probably more important for them!

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[03] Municipal Elections

By Anna Kourti

PASOK's Political Council meeting continues for the second day in Anavyssos, mainly focusing on the party strategy over municipal elections. The PASOK President, on Monday, harshly criticised the Government on its policies, speaking of authoritarian practices and attacks on people's incomes. Regarding the wiretapping scandal, Mr Papandreou accused the Prime Minister of being irresponsible and stressed, "All competent ministers should hand in their resignations."

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[04] As per Lausanne's Prosecutor Bourboulias' Appeals Filed Late

By Mary Lou Tzempelikou

Sources: NET

The Prosecutor of Lausannes High Court, ruled that the appeals of former Examiner Konstantina Bourboulia were filed late, while he submitted a proposal for the release of her bank accounts. The matter will be discussed anew on Friday and the decisions will be made in the following days, while the ruling of the Paris Appellate Court concerning her extradition to Greece is expected on Wednesday.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

[05] Thirteen Dead and Eleven Injured Multi-Fatality Blast in Kandahar

By Athina Saloustrou

Thirteen people, mainly police officers, were killed and eleven were injured in a blast in Kandahar, south Afghanistan, announced the city hospital doctor. A spokesperson for the Afghan Interior Ministry said there are 12 confirmed dead and the injured are 14, both policemen and civilians. According to an AFP reporter, the bomb exploded in front of the Police headquarters. Eyewitnesses said the bomb was placed on a motorcycle. Dr Mamun of the Kandahar hospital clarified most of the 11 injured are in critical condition. Over 1,400 people were killed last year in Afghanistan during attacks. This was the country's bloodiest year, since US troops ousted the Talibans in late 2001.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[06] Presidential-Parliamentarian Elections Haiti to the Ballots

By Anna Kourti

Sources: BBC, ANA

Some 3.5 million Haitians are called to cast their votes and elect their new President and Parliament members. These elections have been postponed four times in a year. The central returning board and the international community aim at holding free and democratic elections. Some 9,500 UN security troops and police officers are on the go to ensure order. Ballots will open at 06:00 local time (12:00 CET) and close at 16:00 local time (22:00 CET). However, the results should be released after three days. Apart from the 30 senators and 99 Parliamentarians, Haitians are called to elect the next President among 32 candidates. Former President Rene Preval is considered the favorite to win the elections. Mr Preval, aged 63, was a close ally of overthrown president Jean Bertran Aristide, who left Haiti in February 2004 and is currently living in South Africa. Preval's main opponents are industrialist Charles Henry Baker and former President Leslie Manigat.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[07] With 12 Dead Bus Overturned in Rome

By Anna Kourti

At least 12 people lost their lives and several were injured when the bus they were on went off its course and fell in a ditch. The bus carried 30 Turks, returning from a party in downtown Rome. The Roman competent authorities, however, did not wish to give out more information on the accident.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

Read the story on other sources:

BBC: Tourists die in Rome bus plunge

[08] Olympiacos Made it in the End

By Stathis Petropoulos

The guests tight defence and Bartzokas amazing saves converted the match between Olympiacos and Kallithea, which concluded round 15 of the Greek Division 1 football championship, into a thriller. The home team took an early lead with Rivaldos free kick in the 8. Kallithea threatened to tie the score almost immediately, but referee Vasiliou did not award the team a clear penalty in the 18. Finally, the guests tied the score in the 30, but thanks to an error by the referee once again, since the scorer Koutsospyros, was offside. The match was very close right up until the end, but Solieds golden substitution, Georgatos, saved the day the day for Olympiacos in the 88 with a left-foot kick.

Referee: Vasiliou (Ilia) Yellow Cards: Okkas Aggelopoulos, Mijatovic, Sylla, Behi, Bartzokas

OLYMPIACOS: Nikopolidis, Mavrogenidis, Bulut (83 Georgatos), Schurrer, Kapsis, Stltidis, Babagida (70 Okkas), Castillo (60 Dani), Konstantinou, Rivaldo, Djordjevic.

KALLITHEA: Bartzokas, Venetis, Aggelopoulos, Koulakiotis (89 Clember), Mijatovic, Behi, Tsiolis (72 Georgiev), Petkovic, Koutsospyros (83 Pasas), Sylla, Randovanovic.

Translated by Vicky Ghionis

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