In Brief
GAS-CANISTER BOMBS
Salonica blasts target church, parliamentary candidate A homemade gas-canister bomb, placed at the entrance to offices housing Thessaloniki’s Missionary Evangelical Church – on the third floor of a seven-floor block in the northern city – caused 3,000 euros of damage when they detonated yesterday morning. Police also found an unexploded gas-canister bomb outside the office of New Democracy candidate MP for Thessaloniki Erotokritos Theotokatos. Suspected anarchists have mounted a spate of gas-canister bomb attacks on Thessaloniki targets over the past year. There have been a dozen so far this year. Also yesterday, a fire broke out at a car showroom belonging to PASOK candidate MP for Thessaloniki Thomas Rombopoulos. The cause of the blaze was unclear. PELION PROTECTION Court rejects draft presidential decree lifting restrictions on construction The fifth division of the Council of State yesterday rejected a draft presidential decree which would have lifted restrictions on construction in 13 protected traditional villages on Mount Pelion, in the prefecture of Magnesia. Among the provisions of the decree found to be illegal by the court was one allowing the use of terracotta tiles on the roofs of buildings instead of the traditional gray slates which characterize most houses in the villages of Pelion. ELECTION CAMPAIGN Parties allocated kiosks in Athens The Athens Municipal Council yesterday determined the location in the city center of the electoral kiosks of all political parties. PASOK’s kiosk will be set up in Klafthmonos Square, New Democracy’s will be in Dikaiosynis Square and on the Ermou pedestrian walkway, and the Communist Party’s will be in Omonia Square. Those of Synaspismos Left Coalition and the Democratic Social Movement (DIKKI) will be set up at the junction of Aeolou and Stadiou streets and on Panepistimiou Street (near the National Library) respectively. Migrant appeal Amnesty International yesterday urged the Greek government not to deport 16 illegal immigrants who were rescued when their yacht foundered in a storm on the way to Evia at the end of last month. Authorities decided to expel the migrants on January 30, a day before they lodged their requests for asylum. Courts closed All courts in Athens, Piraeus and eastern and western Attica, with the exception of some misdemeanor courts, were closed yesterday due to the severe weather conditions, following a decision by Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos. The court where the trial of Revolutionary Popular Struggle (ELA) terror group suspects began last Monday also suspended proceedings due to the bad weather. GMO-free zones There will be no more cultivation and use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in Karditsa, prefectural authorities decided yesterday. Karditsa is the 11th prefecture to positively respond to a Greenpeace appeal to the country’s 54 prefectures to declare themselves «GMO-free zones.» Iraklion station The Kifissia-bound platform of Iraklion station on the Piraeus-Kifissia urban electric railway will be closed today as works get under way. Commuters can use the temporary station between Iraklion and Irini. Acting minister Professor Nikos Alivizatos was yesterday sworn in as acting Interior Minister to replace Costas Skandalidis. Alivizatos is to hold the post until the March 7 general elections. Composer dies The traditional folk music composer Theodoros Polykandriotis died late on Thursday at the age of 81. Kifissias Avenue The road running parallel to the Kifissia-bound lane of Kifissias Avenue will be closed between Thermopylon and Marathonos streets as of Monday due to works on a pedestrian bridge. Also, traffic on Kymis Avenue, from Spyrou Louis to Plapouta Street, will be reduced to one lane from today until February 25, while traffic going in the other direction along the same stretch will be reduced to two lanes.
