According to a statement issued by New Democracy, the conclusion reached based on the opinion polls is that a few months before the elections and in spite of the anxious efforts by the governing Socialist Party of PASOK to launch a "counterattack" by usi ng populist methods and benefits, the distance in favor of New Democracy was not reduced but on the contrary it was increased.

Those responding to the opinion poll questionnaire were called to state their opinion -positive, rather positive or negative- on Kostas Simitis, Kostas Karamanlis, Vasilis Papageorgopoulos, Panagiotis Psomiadis, Stelios Papathemelis and Kiriakos Spirioun is.

A positive or rather positive view on Panagiotis Psomiadis had 66.3% of those who responded to the questionnaire, Vasilis Papageorgopoulos (65.6%), Kostas Karamanlis (57.2%), Stelios Papathemelis (53.6%), Kostas Simitis (52.6%) and Kiriakos Spiriounis (3 4.5%).

Negative or rather negative view on Kostas Simitis had 44.8% of those who responded to the questionnaire, Stelios Papathemelis (38%), Kiriakos Spiriounis (36%), Kostas Karamanlis (34.7%), Vasilis Papageorgopoulos (27.1%) and Panagiotis Psomiadis (26.4%).

Thessaloniki Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis commenting on the opinion poll results pointed out that he is deeply moved by the positive view the people of Thessaloniki have for him, adding that he will work even harder for the benefit of the prefecture.

A number of firemen called on the scene with 10 firefighting vehicles put out the fire and managed to rescue ten individuals trapped inside the building.

According to information, the fire broke out in the basement of the building and spread within a few minutes. Its causes are unknown.

The sailing boat was immobilized immediately and the Coast Guard officers arrested two Ukrainians who were responsible for the human trafficking. All the illegal aliens found on board were taken to the shore.

Of the stocks trading today, 117 had gains and 172 had losses, while the value of 92 stocks remained unchanged.

The boat sank 9 nautical miles from Marmara and the rescue search conducted by the Turkish authorities ended yesterday afternoon. They found only 13 life buoys.

Turkish news agency Anadolu reported that there are no survivors.

Meanwhile, the crew of the Greek ferryboat "Patmos" spotted three bodies between the islands of Nisiros and Kos, southeastern Aegean, while later in the afternoon Greek Coast Guard boats spotted four more bodies in the sea region between the islands of S imi and Nisiros.

The center's president Yiannis Makridakis stated to MPA that the insect was photographed and was sent to the Museum of Natural History in Liverpool. According to the museum, it is a unique and first-time appearing kind of a scorpion-like insect that belo ngs to the category of the arachnids. The same view was expressed by Greek and foreign entomologists and also, by the Museum of Natural History in Sofia, Bulgaria.