A 25-year-old AIDS carrier yesterday faced an investigating magistrate on Rhodes to defend himself on charges of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm to a 23-year-old mother with whom he had allegedly started a sexual relationship. The 25-year-old turned himself in after the woman asked police to bring charges against him. The unnamed man admitted to being an AIDS carrier but denied infecting the 23-year-old or any other women with the disease intentionally.

A 51-year-old fugitive from Alikarnassos jail in Crete, who is believed to have swindled dozens of house hunters, was arrested on Thursday, police said yesterday. According to police, the convict would pose as a potential tenant in order to obtain the keys to apartments, which he would then show to house hunters, posing as the owner in order to pocket purchase deposits. It was unclear how much money he allegedly amassed in this way. The 51-year-old had been serving a sentence for multiple cases of fraud and forgery.

Two years after terrorists killed 331 people in Beslan, Greece will finance the construction of a day school and a boarding school in the Russian town, Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos said yesterday. «The school will be built in memory of the teacher Yannis Kanidis, of Greek descent, who gave his life to protect the students,» Koumoutsakos added.

Authorities yesterday issued a fire warning for the areas of Evia, Samos, Crete, the Ionian islands, the Dodecanese, and the Cyclades after a forecast of windy conditions this weekend.

Police yesterday detained two foreigners believed to have been involved in a criminal ring producing forged documents. A search of the foreigners' home unearthed a shotgun, a large number of forged documents and a small quantity of drugs, officers said.

A forest fire that broke out in Salamina, west of Athens, was brought under control yesterday before it spread to nearby homes, authorities said. Fifty firefighters using 15 trucks were involved in the operation, which lasted for a few hours. Authorities also said forest fires in Zakynthos and Cephalonia were under at least partial control yesterday.

A land mine and three hand grenades were found late on Thursday in a roadside rubbish bin in Pefki, northern Athens, police said. Bomb squad officials and military experts investigated the weapons, which they say are likely not connected to criminal activity. The hand grenades had been deactivated, authorities added.

Law enforcers, firefighters and coast guard employees will strike and hold a protest at the Thessaloniki International Fair on Friday in order to push pay demands, they said yesterday. The workers are expected to demonstrate in uniform at the White Tower in the northern Greek city. Greece's largest umbrella union, GSEE, and ADEDY, the public servants' union, are also scheduled to demonstrate in Thessaloniki on Saturday to protest the government's fiscal policy.

A 26-year-old man was arrested in Neo Psychico, northern Athens, on Thursday, accused of purse snatching, police said yesterday. The suspect had allegedly stolen women's purses while driving past them on his motorbike. The suspect is said to have confessed to 20 more counts of theft in the Athens area, according to authorities. Police have launched a manhunt for his accomplice, who escaped arrest.