Greece stands by ‘terrorist’
Athens is planning further diplomatic action to secure the release on bail of a Greek held by the UK authorities since February 25 on terrorism-linked charges that carry a maximum 10-year sentence, the government said yesterday. On Tuesday, a court in Bedlington, northern England, refused to grant bail to Haralambos Dousemetzis, 25, a former Northumbria University student charged with possessing articles that could be used to instigate, prepare or commission acts of terrorism. A new plea for release on bail will be made on April 8, when it will be decided whether there is sufficient evidence to try Dousemetzis, who was allegedly found in possession of rubber stamps and a proclamation linked with the November 17 terrorist group. «I think anyone would easily call this reaction excessive,» government spokesman Christos Protopappas said. «We are studying our next steps and reactions… It seems, and there is no proof to the contrary, that the Greek citizen did nothing at all. He had certain opinions… and behavior which have landed him in prison for a very long time.»
