Around 25 youths attacked police guards in central Athens with firebombs early yesterday in the second assault against law enforcement in two days. Self-styled anarchists attacked police guarding the PASOK offices on Harilaou Trikoupi Street before dispersing into nearby areas. There were no reports of injuries. Chief of Police Anastassios Dimoschakis described Friday’s attack on the Pefki police station in northern Athens as a “crime against the community and its citizens.” Late on Friday, a group of about 10 unknown youths threw firebombs at the police station, causing damage to the building and at least four patrol cars parked nearby. There were no reports of injuries. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether any officers guarding the police station at the time of the attack acted in a negligent manner.

Three suspects detained in connection to November’s police ambush in Crete were questioned by an investigating magistrate on Saturday. Two of the suspects were remanded in custody while the third was freed as an investigation into the shooting continues. An officer was seriously injured when police were attacked by gunmen while trying to raid the mountainous village of Zoniana, looking for drugs and weapons. The three suspects were among 12 people detained earlier this month in Crete by authorities.

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos has a slim lead in opinion polls three weeks before elections but could still lose to his communist rival, surveys suggested yesterday. Polls in the Simerini and Politis dailies gave Papadopoulos 33.2 percent and 30.5 percent, respectively, just ahead of Communist leader Demetris Christofias with 32.4 percent in the Simerini poll and 30 percent in the Politis survey. (Reuters)

Boats and some larger ships remained moored in the northeastern Aegean and Thermaic Gulf yesterday as northwesterly winds reached gale force, making sailing dangerous. There were no reports of any accidents or injuries.

Prefectural authorities in Thessaloniki confiscated more than a ton of rotten fish following a series of surprise raids on a large fish market and several small street markets. Officials seized 500 kilos of sea bream, 600 kilos of red mullet and 100 kilos of trout. The fish is believed to have come from Italy.

A ferry boat attempting to dock off the Ionian island of Cephalonia on Saturday struck a lamppost on the pier with its ramp, causing the lamppost to fall upon a car parked nearby. A woman who was in the car at the time was not injured but the fall damaged the vehicle.

Labor Minister Fani Palli-Petralia is scheduled to meet up with union groups this week over proposed changes to the social security system. The minister is expected to go over plans regarding the merging of pension funds in professions such as engineers and journalists.

PAOK created the season’s biggest upset in the A1 basketball division, beating Olympiakos at home 81-80 yesterday. Leader Panathinaikos opened a two-point gap at the top, downing AGO Rethymnon 74-89 away.