Robbers have stolen some of the remains of a saint, as well as other religious items, from a monastery on Mount Athos, police revealed yesterday. The bones of Saint, or Aghios, Cosmas were stolen from the Megisti Lavra or Great Lavra Monastery in the semi-autonomous monastic community between January 30 and February 2. A bible and a silver tray were among the other items, most of which are more than a century old, that were taken. Authorities did not reveal how thieves broke into the monastery. Halkidiki police are investigating the theft.

A 19-year-old youth, charged with murdering his father at their Nikaia home on February 23, was yesterday remanded in custody. The unnamed teenager testified two weeks ago but the decision regarding whether to remand him was made only yesterday following a disagreement between a prosecutor and magistrate on this issue. The 19-year-old has claimed his 54-year-old father was violent and was responsible for his mother’s death.

Greece said yesterday that it is in favor of United Nations-supervised talks on the future of Kosovo continuing if they will increase the chances of a settlement being reached. UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari wants the UN Security Council to decide Kosovo’s future after little progress during talks but Greece has joined Russia in suggesting that the discussions should be given more time. “If the process to define the future status needs more time to be successful, then the international community has to find and provide this time,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos.

A 21-year-old man from Crete was sentenced to 20 years and three months in jail yesterday for the attempted murder of three people on the island last April. The victims were injured when the unnamed man shot at them following an argument. One of the victims has been partially paralyzed after being struck in the head by a bullet.

Police said yesterday they had arrested a 34-year-old man at the Xanthi casino late on Tuesday after he bought chips using counterfeit US dollars. Authorities arrested the suspect, who had gambled away 25,700 dollars, after detecting the poor quality of the fake notes, which all had the same serial number.

A 28-year-old man died in Thessaloniki yesterday from stab wounds he suffered on Tuesday afternoon after being attacked by an unknown man, police said. The victim, who was not identified, was attacked at the entrance of an apartment building in the Kalamaria area.