An explosive device that went off outside the office of the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) in the Cretan port city of Hania early yesterday morning caused no injuries but seriously damaged the premises, police said. The strong blast opened a crater in the ground and wrecked the entrance to the offices as well as smashing the windows. It also caused serious damage to the apartment above the offices. Nobody claimed responsibility for the blast but it has been linked to a proposal by local MP and former SYRIZA leader Alekos Alavanos for an appeals court to be set up in Iraklion. Alavanos is due to visit the area today.

The owner of a jewelry shop in Thessaloniki was being treated in hospital last night after being shot three times in the leg by two armed men who raided his store. Police in the northern city said that the robbers entered the shop and ordered the 68-year-old owner, who was in the store with his son, to hand over some jewelry. When the unnamed owner refused, they shot him and grabbed a number of items before fleeing the scene.

It was announced yesterday that passengers on the Proastiakos suburban railway will not have to wait longer than 15 minutes for a train following timetable changes. More information is available on tel 210.527.20.00 or by visiting www.proastiakos.gr.

A 28-year-old man from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) yesterday faced a Thessaloniki prosecutor after allegedly trying to sell a plainclothes policeman three pistols and dozens of rounds of bullets. The suspect allegedly arranged to meet the officer, who had posed as a potential customer, near the northern city of Kilkis.

A new passenger ferry, named Lissos, has been dispatched to serve the route between Piraeus and Lesvos after the Theophilos was damaged when it struck a reef off Oinousses on Saturday. The Lissos was completely refitted in 1989, shipping firm officials said. As for the Theophilos, divers have partially repaired a 15-meter gash in the hull of the vessel, which should be ready to sail to Chios for more extensive repairs by Friday.

A 40-year-old Trikala man has died of allergic shock after being stung by wasps. The man, who had gone to Palama, Karditsa, to buy a car, was stung when he opened the car hood. Although he received immediate medical treatment, he died on his way to Karditsa hospital.

Aris coach Dusan Bajevic suddenly quit his post yesterday following disagreements with the Thessaloniki soccer club on how to handle defender Avraam Papadopoulos, who is yet to agree on a contract extension. Also yesterday Panathinaikos was drawn in the Champions League second qualifying round with the winner of the game between Dinamo Tbilisi of Georgia and Runavik of the Faroe Islands.