The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-08-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Massacre in Northern Iraq

Police said 88 people were wounded in the suicide bombing, one of several attacks in recent weeks targeting Shi'ite religious gatherings. A week ago a series of blasts outside Shi'ite mosques in Baghdad killed 31 people.

Sunni Islamist militants such as al Qaeda, who consider Shi'ites heretics, are often blamed for such attacks.

Source: Reuters

Older news items: News item: 25582

[02] Champions League Draw and Greek Teams

Following the draw for the play-off round in Nyon, Olympiakos FC must overcome Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) and Panathinaikos must overcome Atletico Madrid if they are to return to the UEFA Champions League group stage. The play-offs are played over two legs on 18/19 and 25/26 August.

As for the Europa League, PAOK will play against Heerenveen FC (Netherlands) and AEK against Vaslui (Romania). The first leg of the play-off has been scheduled for 20 August, and the second a week later.

Watch the Champions League play-offs draw

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News item: 25578

[03] EOF Sets Requirements for Antiviral Medicines Administration

The antiviral medicines will be put on to the market in the coming days, while the National Organization for Medicines (EOF) sent a circular to all implicating bodies determining the administration requirements. In the meantime, EOF has pharmacists, doctors and health agencies with rigorous inspections and harsh sanctions in a drive to avert antiviral medicines overconsumption.

EOF sent Friday a circular to all the implicating bodies, urging them to step up the measures with regard to the administration of antiviral medicines.

Source: NET, NET 105.8, ANA/MPA

Related news: Controlled Administration of Antiviral Medicines

News item: 25577

[04] âSweeping Operationâ in the Athens City Center

An abandoned hotel building in the center of Athens was evacuated on Friday. In the sweeping operation cooperated police, Fire Department, Athens Prefecture and Municipality. The area around Deligiorgi St. , where abandoned for 15 years âApollonâ hotel was refuge for illegal immigrants,was cordoned off to facilitate the operation. Some 20 immigrants were brought to the police station for identification.

In the meantime, on police carried out another sweeping operation in high criminality areas in the city center. Inspected were 680 people, 49 shops, 87 cars while 52 people were arrested.

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8

News item: 25575

[05] PM Meeting with Outgoing GEETHA Chief

Prime-minister Kostas Karamanlis had a meeting with outgoing chief of the Armed Forces General Staff, General Dimitris Grapsas at the Maximos Mansion on Friday morning. Mr. Grapsas said that he thanked the Prime-minister for the honour to twice select him as leader of the Armed Forces. In reference to Greek-Turkish relations, he also said that the Prime-minister is fully briefed on all issues by the Defense Minister. He also added that the Greek people have no reason for concern and should have confidence in the Armed Forces. Next the Prime-minister is to meet with Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

âIt was a protocol visit. I wanted to thank Mr. President for the honour to twice trust me the leadership of the Armed Forces, both the Army and the Armed Forces General Staff. And for Mr. President this invitation was to honour the Armed Forcesâ said D. Grapsas after the meeting.

In response to a relevant question Mr. Grapsas said that their discussion included Greek-Turkish issues, adding that the Prime-minister is always fully briefed by the Defense Minister. He also said that the Greek people should have confidence in the Armed Forces and the political leadership when asked if there was reason for concern over the recent Turkish activity in the Aegean.

News item: 25567

[06] Fresh Mass Exodus Wave

Increased movement is forecast for this week end as summer holidays exodus continues. Airplanes, trains, coaches and ships leave at full capacity and schedule additional services.

All flights take off at 100% capacity from âEleftherios Benizelosâ Airport while ones who have not booked their flights are advised not to go to the airport expecting to find a ticket. There have been scheduled 1779 regular flights and 45 charter flights for this weekend to depart from E. Benizelos Airport.

Most popular domestic destinations this summer are Hania, Heraklio, Mykonos, Santorini and Kos, and most popular destinations abroad are Paris, Roem, Frankfurt and Brussels.

Also ferries to the islands set sail from Piraeus and Rafina ports at full capacity. Thirty-three ferry services are scheduled to leave from the port of Piraeus and 20 from the port of Rafina.

Today's train services on Athens-Thessaloniki route leave at less than 95% capacity while tomorrow's services less than 65% so prospective passengers can issue last moment tickets.

Regarding intercity coach services , there will be scheduled an additional 190 services to the regular 735 services to meet increased demand( total 925 services).

A positive aspect of travelling by coach is that travel is guaranteed even for those who have not booked in advance, as services are scheduled according to demand.

In view of mass exodus traffic police issued special measures in effect at midday, on Friday.

News item: 25568

[07] Pakistan Taliban Chief Probably Dead

Last Updated on Friday, 07 August 2009 14:19

Pakistan believes Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who has a $5 million U.S. bounty on his head, was probably killed with his wife and bodyguards in a missile attack two days ago, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Friday. He, however, stressed that there was no material evidence to confirm information.

An intelligence officer told Reuters that Mehsud's funeral had already taken place, while Pakistani media cited their own security sources, saying Mehsud was dead.

"He was killed with his wife and he was buried in Nargosey," the officer said, referring to a tiny settlement about 1 km from the site of the attack, believed to have been carried out by a pilotless U.S. aircraft.

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that there is information about his death but no material evidence. Diplomats in Islamabad say Mehsud's death would mark a major coup for Pakistan, but many doubt it will help Western troops fighting the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan.

Mehsud declared himself leader of the Pakistan Taliban, grouping around 13 factions in the northwest, in late 2007 and his fighters have staged a wave of suicide attacks inside Pakistan and on Western forces across the border in Afghanistan.

He is accused of being behind the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in December 2007, a charge he has denied. Conspiracy theories abound over who killed the former prime minister.

A U.S. official said there were grounds to believe Mehsud was dead. "There is reason to believe that reports of his death may be true, but it can't be confirmed at this time," the

official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Source: ÁNA, Reuters BBC: Pakistani Taliban leader 'killed'

News item: 25559

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