A mass innoculation program aimed at vaccinating the population against swine flu is to begin on November 16 when the first batch of vaccines for the H1N1 virus is administered to health workers, it was revealed yesterday. In a circular distributed to hospitals and local authorities, Health Minister Mariliza Xenogiannakopoulou heralded the formation at all major hospitals of swine flu committees and vaccination teams. The latter will each comprise at least one doctor and one nurse. The week beginning November 16 will be devoted to the vaccination of nursing staff but some citizens of exceptionally fragile health will also be able to get their jabs on their doctor’s recommendation. The following week, beginning November 23, will be set aside for the vaccination of vulnerable citizens, chiefly those suffering from other serious ailments. It was unclear whether this second phase would include the vaccination of pregnant women and children.

Police yesterday were seeking four robbers who raided a branch of Bank of Cyprus in the northern Athens suburb of Pefki after smashing the facade of the building with a sledgehammer. No one was injured in the raid after which the four robbers fled with an undetermined sum. Police believe the suspects are behind a similar raid on another branch of the same bank in the nearby suburb of Metamorphosi on Monday.

A powerful undersea quake, measuring between 5.6 and 5.9 on the Richter scale, struck between the Ionian islands of Zakynthos and Cephalonia at 7.25 a.m. yesterday. The quake, whose epicenter was approximately 10 kilometers below the seabed, was felt on both islands but there were no reports of any damage or injuries.

A 28-year-old man alleged to have been involved in a scuffle with riot police in the central Athens district of Aghios Panteleimonas on Monday faced a prosecutor yesterday on charges of weapons possession and attempted bodily harm. The suspect is alleged to have punched a police officer in the face when local residents and suspected members of far-right organizations gathered to protest against an anti-racist rally in the area. Police found two stiletto knives and a rubber baton in his possession. Another suspect, aged 23, was also detained after a sling shot was found on him.

An Athens prosecutor yesterday brought charges against a 68-year-old Greek man, a 15-year-old Albanian youth and another Greek man whose age was not made known for the alleged rape of a 17-year-old Albanian minor who is mentally disabled.

Unidentified arsonists yesterday hurled five petrol bombs at a derelict building in the central Athens district of Victoria which is being used as a squat, police said. No serious damage or injuries were reported. It is unclear if the building is one of several in the city center being occupied by illegal immigrants or a hangout for self-styled anarchists.