In Brief
ROAD DEATHS
Car kills two women on main southern Athens road Two women were killed and a young boy seriously injured in two separate Athens road accidents on Friday. The two women, who were only identified as foreign nationals, died instantly when a car struck them as they were crossing Poseidonos Avenue in Glyfada, southern Athens, shortly after 11 p.m. The driver, Giorgos Lazoglou, 30, was hospitalized with minor injuries. The boy was on his bicycle when he was hit by a car in Fyli, northwest of Athens, at about 8 p.m. on Saturday. Police are seeking the driver, who abandoned the scene of the accident. Anyone with information should call 210.285.4391 or 210.281.7034. TURKISH EXERCISE Naval search-and-rescue drill The Turkish Navy is to conduct a search-and-rescue exercise in the Aegean from Wednesday, Agence France-Presse quoted the Turkish military as saying yesterday. Seawolf 2004, which will involve the navy, coast guard and air force, is aimed at improving coordination between civilian and military search-and-rescue units, according to a statement quoted by the AFP. The exercise, which will involve the Health and Transport ministries, is designed to test Turkey’s humanitarian operations, according to the statement. Hang-glider accident A 28-year-old Belgian man was yesterday in a Corinth hospital with serious leg and back injuries after the hang-glider he was flying crashed into the slope of Mount Ziria near Ano Trikala. A team of seven firefighters took around four hours to rescue Andre Yuri. It was unclear what caused the crash. US ambassador US President George W. Bush has chosen a senior US career diplomat, Charles Ries, as the new ambassador to Greece, Agence France-Presse quoted the White House as saying on Thursday. Ries, who will be replacing Thomas Miller, is the principal deputy assistant secretary at the US State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. All US nominations for ambassadorial posts require the Senate’s approval. Shepherd electrocuted A 17-year-old shepherd from Iraklion, Crete, was fatally electrocuted through one of his sheep on Friday, police said. Yiannis Kounalis died when he touched the dead animal after failing to notice the fallen electricity cable which the sheep was still in contact with, according to police. Athlete protection Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer yesterday said Canberra was planning to send federal police officers to Athens to protect Australian athletes in August, warning that the Olympics are a «spectacular» terrorist target, Agence France-Presse reported yesterday. Downer said Australia was also considering sending four specially trained federal police officers to check security in the countdown to the Games, AFP said.
