Tests on samples of animal feed in Greece have revealed high levels of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), according to activists of the environmental protection group Greenpeace, who yesterday protested outside the Agriculture Ministry in Athens. Out of 19 samples of animal feed — including soya, corn and cereals — 15 were found to have been genetically modified to some degree, some up to 100 percent, according to Greenpeace, which carried out the tests at laboratories in Greece and abroad. “It has once again been proven that GMOs are entering our food chain via animal fodder,” Greenpeace spokesperson Mirto Pispini said. The ministry pledged later yesterday to intensify inspections on imported cereals used in animal fodder.

Police in Thessaloniki said yesterday that they had arrested an officer on suspicion that he accepted a bribe to release a woman who had been detained in connection with drugs offenses. The 26-year-old policeman, whose initials were given as S.V., allegedly asked for 20,000 euros from the woman’s husband so he could release her from custody. A fellow officer, however, became aware of the arrangement and when the handover of the first 2,000 euros occurred in a local cafe on Wednesday, undercover officers were there to arrest the policeman.

Police on Crete were on high alert yesterday after a 21-year-old man who allegedly shot two people following an argument over a car crash turned himself in at Rethymnon police station. The unnamed man admitted to shooting a 16-year-old boy and 21-year-old man on Wednesday. The 21-year-old was shot in the head and was in critical condition yesterday. The suspect said he was attacked first. Police have been patrolling the area of Anogeia, where the incident occurred, because of fears of reprisals.

An oral insulin spray will be available for diabetes sufferers in Greece by the beginning of next year, doctors said yesterday. The head of the Diabetes Center at the Hygeia Hospital in Athens, Christos Zoupas said that up to 7 percent of Greeks suffer from diabetes and that the oral spray has the advantage of allowing the insulin to be absorbed faster than when it is injected. But one of the spray’s side effects, suffered by up to 20 percent of users, is a persistent dry cough.

Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos called on PASOK to condemn a poster, produced by its student wing PASP for Wednesday’s student council election, which depicts a green plane heading toward two blue buildings resembling New York’s Twin Towers. Roussopoulos said the parallels being drawn were unacceptable and were an affront to victims of terrorism. PASOK spokesman Nikos Athanassakis said he “obviously condemned” the poster but said it did not compare to the abusive chants students supporting New Democracy aimed at Socialist leader George Papandreou.

Piraeus prefect officials said yesterday they had confiscated 213 imported lambs from the Rendi food market in Athens that had not been slaughtered correctly. The lambs had been imported from Hungary and Romania. In March, prefectural authorities had confiscated 15.2 tons of cheese and meat products, including beef, pork and poultry, that were unfit for consumption.

A total of 240 volunteers will form a human chain at Syntagma Square in central Athens today to observe World Health Day and raise awareness about the prevention of health problems. Organizers of the event, scheduled to take place at noon, will also hand out information on how people can improve their bodies’ natural defenses.

An explosion caused by three homemade bombs resulted in minor damage to the front of a cafeteria in the center of Thessaloniki early yesterday, police said. No one was hurt in the blast, which also damaged a nearby parked car and two motorbikes. Authorities set damages at about 5,000 euros.