In Brief
ACROPOLIS ‘UNVEILED’
President to be shown renovated sections of the Parthenon, Propylaea President Costis Stephanopoulos is to be given a guided tour of the Acropolis today following the completion of works to restore the Parthenon’s vestibule and rear inner porch. The tour will also reveal the completion of maintenance work on the western frieze as well as the restoration of the eastern side and the northern wall of the Propylaea. JAIL UNREST Protests in several prisons reportedly under control The Justice Ministry was on standby yesterday as a climate of unrest prevailed in several jails across the country even though protests by inmates had reportedly been brought under control. The first protest began at Aghios Stefanos jail in Patras and was followed by unrest in Attica’s Korydallos jail, Thessaloniki’s Diavata jail, and prisons in Nafplion, Larissa, Corfu, Ioannina, Halkida and Komotini. The protests were reportedly led by foreign inmates calling for the early release of some convicts. HOTEL WORKERS Strike called for August 4 Protesting hotel workers yesterday announced plans to go on strike on August 4 just as visitors and International Olympic Committee officials are due to start arriving for the Olympic Games. Employees are demanding higher pay – in line with other European countries – and an Olympic bonus for working extra hours over the Games. They have threatened to strike during the Games if their demands are not met. Doctors’ protest Hospital doctors in Athens and Piraeus are to stage a six-hour strike tomorrow, demanding more money for extra work during the Olympics. The strike is due to start at 11 a.m. Today, ambulance workers and paramedics are due to stage a four-hour work stoppage from 9 a.m. They are also demanding the payment of an Olympic bonus. Portuguese aid Greece will send two aircraft to help Portugal fight forest fires after weekend blazes destroyed thousands of hectares of forest and protected wilderness areas, The Associated Press quoted officials in Lisbon as saying yesterday. «We have asked the European Union for assistance and Greece is sending two planes,» the head of Portugal’s Civil Protection and National Firefighters Service, Paiva Monteiro, said. Tram glitch Trams in the Faliron area were out of action for more than two hours yesterday afternoon after a cement mixer being transported upon a truck snagged the overhead electricity lines powering the tram. Policeman suicide A young policeman from Komotini, who had been transferred to a police training unit in Amygdaleza to prepare for security duties at the Olympic Village, yesterday shot himself in the head with his service revolver, police said. Athanassios Moschidis, whose age was not made public, died in hospital. Traffic disruptions Traffic will be disrupted in central Athens and other parts of Attica over the next 15 days as work crews mark out the special lanes to be used by vehicles transporting the Olympic Family. Roads affected include Kifissias, Vas. Sofias, Vas. Constantinou, Ardittou, Kallirois, Syngrou, Poseidonos, Kifissou and Marathonos. The works will be carried out between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily. Olympic security Two large scanning machines, contributed by the US government to facilitate the inspection of the cargo on trucks entering Olympic venues, will today be officially received by the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee (ATHOC) during a ceremony in Aspropyrgos. US Ambassador Thomas Miller will attend the handover. Storm alert The National Meteorological Service has warned of heavy rain and thunderstorms across mainland Greece and the Ionian today. Rail strike Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) staff have announced work stoppages on Friday, Saturday and next Monday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. They demand the recruitment of more staff.
