The video has recorded how Savvas and Vassilis Xeros, Dimitris Koufontinas, and Iraklis Kostaris escaped with the loot from the OTE branch on Patission. Two motorcycles approached the armored truck that had parked outside OTE. When the guards exited the truck with the metal box containing the money, two of the group them attack, immobilize them and steal 235,000 euro, then escaping on their motorcycles.

This event was filmed by Panos Golfis and was corroborated by Vassilis Xeros in his statement, mentioning in fact that Kostas Karatsolis participated - non-actively - in the robbery as well. The criminals escaped by firing at the cameraman that was follo wing them.

Apart from the attorneys of the accused, who have access to the briefs on the case, the investigation is turning in every direction, because as the DA's office stressed, it is not just a leak, but a conveying of the unedited preliminary investigation mat erial itself.

In the meanwhile, in the framework of the investigations being carried out by the Athens Bar Association on the case, the President of the Association ordered a preliminary investigation to commence, in order to ascertain whether the attorneys are respon sible for the leak.

It should be noted that there are police investigations in prefectures neighboring Thessaloniki.

Meanwhile, the historic hideout of N17 in Thessaloniki, where the weapons and rockets stolen from the Sykourio military camp in 1989 were taken, and where the infamous photograph with the organization's emblem was shot, was visited by the men of the coun ter-terrorism service, in order to dust for prints. These will be compared to the evidence taken from the hideouts on Patmos and Damareos st.

According to information announced, a basement apartment in Thessaloniki, behind St. Sophia Church, on Georgios Ch. Kyprios st. 1, rented by Savvas Xeros, had been transformed into an organization hideout during the 1989-91 period. In fact, Dimitris Kouf ontinas seems to have had keys of the apartment and to have visited Thessaloniki quite often during that period.

Iraklis Kostaris and Kostas Karatsolis, members of N17, are being taken to the 4th Regular Examining Judge today. Konstantinos Telios, who admitted his participation in N17 was taken to the DA and will testify before the 4th Regular Examining Judge tomor row.

Meanwhile the authorities are holding 46-year-old Pavlos Serifis, the 12th individual to be arrested, and the official announcement of his arrest is expected to be made this afternoon, when he will be taken to the magistrates' court DA. P. Serifis, who w as indicated as "Nikitas" by Konstantinos Telios, was, according to the statements of the arrested members of the organization, the second in the hierarchy of the organization after A. Giotopoulos or "Lambros".

P. Serifis seems to have been a member of the organization since he was 19 years old, when he participated in the murder of R. Wells, on December 23, 1975. Serifis is the third of the 12, to hold a very negative stance during his preliminary examination until last night, like A. Giotopoulos and his cousin Iraklis Kostaris.

Alexandros Giotopoulos opposed the charges against him connecting him to N17, while he appeared before the 4th Regular Examining Judge yesterday. He questioned the laboratory research and analysis based on which a fingerprint of his was found on manuscri pt in the terrorist organization's hideout on Patmos st.

At the same time, Savvas Xeros will undergo another operation, due to an infection in his injured hand, a development that has led to the delaying of his prosecution.

According to the same appreciation, 5 individuals were involved in the organization during that period, while it is appreciated that Alekos Giotopoulos and Pavlos Serifis or "Nikitas", participated in the killing of CIA Station Chief Richard Wells, while

there is information about a woman implicated, as well as Christos Kassimis, who was killed in a police shooting in 1977 at the Redi AEG.

The counter-terrorism service is looking into the circumstances under which three individuals died, since a "cleaning out" of the organization in the 90's is not out of the question.

These are, the death of Kanellos Zabouflos, former roommate of Christodoulos Xeros, who died of a pulmonary edema at the age of 33, Giannis Skandalis or the "Count", who was killed in a car accident in Peloponnisos, and OjurkYavouz or the "Mission", who died of a heart attack.

Greek Police spokesman Lefteris Economou stated that Pavlos Serifis has denied all charges against him. However, based on evidence gathered during the preliminary examination he is an old member of the terrorist group and used the code-names "Vangelis" o r "Nikitas".

Together with other "17 November" members took part in the assassination of the CIA Station Director in Athens Richard Welsh on Dec. 23, 1975. From time to time, he received money from 17N and knew about its criminal activities and decisions.

The increase in the mine production index was considerable at 11.3%, while the industrial production index itself dropped by 0.6%. Also, the electricity-natural gas-water supply index increased by 2%, mainly due to the increase recorded in the natural ga s production and distribution.

According to press information, this individual is the terrorist group "17 November" informer, who gave information even on confidential reports by state agencies or on the contents of closed government meetings.

This high profile individual is around 50, with unknown marital status. For a considerable amount of time lived in Italy and has a clean police record.

The arrest of this individual, who had contacts only with Alexandros Giotopoulos, is expected to be announced within the next 10 days.

President and Managing Director of the Greek Telecommunications Organization, OTE Group Lefteris Antonakopoulos characterized the Greek-Cypriot cooperation as a big step and stressed that the satellite widens the horizons for the country placing Greece a mong those with a presence in space.

On the occasion of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, he said that the Greek satellite secures the televised broadcast of this great sports event around the world. He also referred to the possibilities offered by the Greek satellite in a wide spectrum of ser vices like, satellite Internet, etc. The specific satellite will be in orbit for 15 years.

The cabinet meeting also dealt with the issue of the consultations for the revision of the Common Farm Policy. Describing the goals of the consultations, the Prime Minister pointed out that Greece seeks the redistribution of funds in favor of medium and small farmers, the strengthening of the EU social cohesion, the creation of incentives for professional farming and the training of new farmers.

Mr. Papandreou stated that Greece's cooperation with the rest EU countries within the framework of the European Union decisions was underlined in today's contacts. He also congratulated the Public Order Ministry leadership for an excellent work.

Mr. Chrisochoidis characterized today's briefing very useful and reiterated that Greece works closely with the rest EU countries on the issue of international terrorism. He stressed that Greece is a safe country and can host safe and successful Olympic G ames.

Of the stocks trading today, 308 recorded gains and only 29 had losses, while the value of 44 stocks remained unchanged.

requested and received more time to prepare his testimony.

Two other 17N members, Iraklis Kostaris and Kostas Karatsolis, refused to testify before the examining judge maintaining that responsible to take over their case are the examining judges of the Court of Appeals.

Meanwhile, police has launched a search in the apartment of 42-year-old Patroklos Tselentis, another 17N member, who used the code-names "Alekos" or "tenias". Tselentis was arrested at noon today and was active in the terrorist group since 1983. Accordin g to information, he was one of the so-called foot-soldiers of the terrorist group and was under Koufodinas in its hierarchy.

Thomas Serifis and Kostas Telios will testify before the examining judge tomorrow afternoon, while the preliminary examination of Savas Xiros conducted by the responsible prosecutor Ioannis Diotis will be completed by Wednesday.

Meanwhile, two more members of the terrorist group, one of them a woman, are expected to be arrested within the next hours.

In a letter to the Director of CNN, Macedonian Press Agency Board of Directors President Mr. Paraskevas Paraskevopoulos characterizes as ignorant of history and geography those responsible for CNN's Internet site and stresses that the geographic reality is fixed and does not take neither misinterpretations nor misunderstandings.

Finally, he urges those responsible to apologize to the Greek people and stop presenting Pella, a Greek city, as the capital of FYROM.

is making in the war against international terrorism, and repeated Greece's excellent cooperation in the war against international terrorism.

He stressed that the arrests in Greece are very important because they send a message to terrorists and those harboring them all over the world, that no matter how long ago the terrorist action took place, the international community will continue to hun t them, find them and bring them before justice.

Specifically, the Times publication mentioned that the target was a US officer involved in planning the 1999 NATO operations in Yugoslavia, and stressed that the British Foreign Office had pointed out, after the Saunders killing, in relation to the organ ization's declaration, that the Brigadier had nothing to do with the bombings in Yugoslavia.

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article