In Brief
EMBASSY ATTACK
Police await proclamation from terrorists claiming responsibility Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras said yesterday that the lack of a statement from any group claiming responsibility for last Friday’s missile attack on the US Embassy was hindering investigations. After meeting with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to brief him about the police’s work, Polydoras said that «growing importance» is being attached by investigators to the fact that the main suspects, Revolutionary Struggle, have yet to issue a proclamation. SEA SEARCH Authorities continue to look for five missing migrants off coast of Samos Rescue workers continued to search yesterday for five migrants reported missing on Wednesday off the coast of Samos in the eastern Aegean. The immigrants were part of a group of 16 people that had sailed into Greek waters illegally. Two of the migrants drowned and another nine were found safe and sound. Meanwhile, police said they detained another 24 illegal immigrants, including five children, on Samos yesterday. Officers said 13 of the migrants were from Somalia and one was from Afghanistan but did not make public the nationalities of the remaining immigrants. CERVICAL CANCER New vaccine to go on approved list The Health Ministry said yesterday that it is in the process of adding the newly available shot against cervical cancer to an approved list of vaccines. Being added to the list will not necessarily mean that the cost of the drug (some 185 euros for each shot) will be covered by social security funds. Deputy Health Minister Giorgos Constantopoulos said that the government would be in a better position to decide whether to decree that insurance funds have to cover the cost of the vaccine. N17 trial Convicted November 17 member Vassilis Tzortzatos yesterday told a court hearing the appeal of the terrorist group that his earlier testimonies to investigating magistrates had been fabricated. Tzortzatos, who received four life sentences for his part in the terror group, claimed to be a «peripheral member» of N17 between the spring of 1985 and the fall of 1992 but refused to reveal the identity of the person who recruited him into organization. He stressed that Christodoulos Xeros, another N17 convict, had not taken him on. Burglers chased Two armed robbers were arrested yesterday near Thessaloniki after a high-speed chase, police said. The suspects had earlier entered an apartment in Nea Moudania, in Halkidiki, and threatened the couple living there with a sawn-off shotgun and a knife. The 56-year-old man and his 45-year-old wife were slightly injured when they tussled with the robbers who sped away from the apartment building empty-handed. Police chased them along the road to Thessaloniki and caught up with them when they crashed into a taxi and a patrol car. Nobody was injured. Heroin find Customs officials discovered yesterday 11.6 kilos of heroin hidden in a car that was entering the country at the Crystallopigi border checkpoint in northwestern Greece. Authorities said that they found 21 packages, each containing 550 grams of heroin, hidden under a Mercedes vehicle. The owner of the car, an Albanian national, was arrested. Missing hunter Rescue teams continued yesterday to search for a 64-year-old businessman in Preveza, northern Greece, after he was reported missing on Wednesday on a hunting trip. The man had been hunting with a group when he told his friends that he would continue on his own. A search was launched after he failed to return home on Wednesday evening. Rescue teams are expected to resume efforts today. Car recall Local Chevrolet dealer Chevellas announced yesterday the recall of 311 Chevrolet Captiva vehicles due to possible brake problems. The dealership said that the recall relates to the 2007 Chevrolet model. Armed robbery Two armed men held up a the offices of the Athens Water Company (EYDAP) in Nikaia, western Athens, yesterday and made away with an unknown amount of money. The assailants fired shots into the air but no one was hurt in the incident, police said.
