Greek troops will be stationed across the country’s railway network during the Olympic Games, providing additional security to that provided by specially trained forces at stations, Transport Minister Michalis Liapis said yesterday. The troops will guard sensitive intersections, fuel tanks, tunnels and railway facilities. Liapis requested this of Defense Minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos at a meeting yesterday. Officials from the ministries of Defense, Transport and Public Order will meet within the week to plan this.

In Lausanne, after briefing the IOC’s executive board, Athens 2004 Organizing Committee chief Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said, “Greece has the budget, the personnel and the security strategy we need to do everything humanly possible to protect the Olympic Games.” Sources in Athens said Greek officials last week refused a request by some countries to bring their own armed guards and that their athletes not stay at the Olympic Village.