NEWS

In Brief

PAPANDREOU BACKED

Former minister, Chrysochiodis declares support for party leader Former PASOK secretary and Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis yesterday came out in favor of current party leaders George Papandreou ahead of the November 11 leadership ballot. Chrysochoidis said that Papandreou, who has been at the helm of the party since 2004, deserved «a second chance» because it could lead to a rebirth of the party and reclaim the «moral high ground.» Another party heavyweight, Anna Diamantopoulou, refused to publicly back any of the candidates despite meeting with Papandreou yesterday. MISSING DIVER Body of Swiss cave explorer found two days after his disappearance Rescuers yesterday recovered the body of a 67-year-old Swiss diver and speleologist, who had disappeared on Monday while exploring an underwater cave in the northeastern Peloponnese. The body of Jean-Jacques Bolanz was found by divers off the coast of Astros Kynourias at a depth of 95 meters. A coroner is to determine the cause of death of Bolanz, who was an experienced diver who had explored dangerous caves near Athens in the past. KEEP ON TRUCKING Refuse drivers to end industrial action Truck drivers who transport construction waste look set to end their strike after the Environment and Public Works Ministry moved yesterday to allow them to dump their loads in a disused quarry in Koropi, east of Athens. The truckers had been banned from taking the materials there and had staged several protests that involved them lining their vehicles along highways around Athens in recent days. The ministry is set to allow the truckers to dump the waste in Koropi for the next eight months, until another solution can be found. Paul Johnston Athens-based Scottish author Paul Johntson is letting private eye Alex Mavros have a rest after he featured in three of the writer’s books and is instead focusing on getting «a lot of heavy revenge» in his new book «The Death List.» Johnson spoke to Kathimerini English Edition about his new book, revenge and his future plans. (Page 6) Cleaners’ strike Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis indicated yesterday that he is hopeful that workers in the cleaning departments of the city’s municipalities will not strike tomorrow. It is believed that the government is willing to classify some of their jobs as «hazardous and unhealthy,» a description that would entitle workers to greater benefits. The workers, however, are only likely to call off the strike if they see some tangible proof of the government’s intention. Police ecstatic A man carrying more than 4,000 ecstasy pills in his car was stopped and arrested yesterday in Ioannina, northwestern Greece, police said. Officers also found small amounts of cannabis and heroin in the car, as well as three knives. Authorities did not name the suspect. Migrants detained Leros coast guard officials detained 27 would-be migrants yesterday after intercepting them off the islet of Farmakonisi. Another 23 immigrants were detained on the island of Lesvos. All had come from neighboring Turkey on inflatable dinghies. Pensioner killed A fire broke out at a farm in the village of Doxa, near Tripoli in the Peloponnese, yesterday killing a 77-year-old male pensioner, according to authorities. Police said the victim is likely to have died from smoke inhalation after attempting to put out the fire. Firefighters were not informed of the blaze which appears to have been started by the pensioner while burning rubbish on his farm. Fewer victims The number of people killed in road accidents in August fell to 145 from 165 in the same month last year as the number of car collisions fell, according to data released by the National Statistics Service (NSS) yesterday. In August there were 1,227 car accidents, down from 1,485 last year. Nafpaktos quake A 4.1 Richter earthquake was recorded in Nafpaktos, near Patras, yesterday. The quake struck at 10.48 a.m. No damage was reported.

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