In Brief
CYPRUS TALKS
Greek PM and Cypriot president agree to exploit new chance Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and visiting Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias yesterday agreed to cooperate closely in order to exploit the new «window of opportunity for a Cyprus solution» that the latter’s election has presented. Christofias said he hoped that his scheduled meeting with Turkish-Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat at the end of this month would culminate with an announcement regarding the opening of a border crossing in Nicosia. Christofias also suggested that Ankara should keep its distance. «(Turkey) should give us the opportunity to move forward together without a noose around our necks,» he said. GARBAGE STRIKE Workers begin action; residents asked not to throw out trash Residents in Athens and Greece’s other big cities were asked yesterday not to throw their rubbish into curbside dumpsters as refuse collectors are set to go on strike for 24 hours today and could continue their action into next week. The garbage men are part of the Panhellenic Federation of Workers Association (POE-OTA), which is planning a strike over the weekend and on Monday and Tuesday next week. The City of Athens said that it aims to employ emergency staff so that rubbish does not pile up in the city center. PSYRRI ARMS STASH Bullets, guns found in Athens bar Police have arrested the manager of a bar in Psyrri, the popular nightlife district in central Athens, after finding guns, ammunition and equipment that could be used to make an explosive device on the premises. Officers raided the bar, which was not named, after reports that it was operating without a license. During a search of the premises, police found two handguns and some 70 bullets in a storage room. They also came across a detonator and remote control that explosives experts said could be used to make a bomb. Police are looking for the bar owner. Veria fire The mayor of Veria, Hariclia Ousoultzoglou, said yesterday that she will call in experts to take pollution readings in the northern city after a fire at a local rubbish dump gave off potentially toxic smoke that spread over the area. The fire broke out on Sunday but was still smoldering yesterday even after it had been brought under control. As a precaution, some schools were closed on Monday but had returned to their normal timetables yesterday. Rhodes shaken Two earthquakes measuring 5.1 Richter each hit the Dodecanese island of Rhodes yesterday. The tremors were felt within minutes of each other. The first was recorded at 6.11 p.m. and the second just three minutes later. No damage or injuries were reported. Robbery suspect Police said yesterday that they have arrested a 26-year-old man who allegedly carried out at least seven robberies at supermarkets and corner shops in Athens. Officers said they are also looking for a 28-year-old alleged accomplice. Both of the suspects are Albanian nationals. They are also thought to have mugged two schoolchildren in the suburb of Nea Halkidona. Meat seizures Inspectors from thePrefecture of Piraeus seized more than 1 ton of meat yesterday deemed unfit for human consumption. Some 400 kilos of chicken was confiscated because it had passed its expiry date, while 680 kilos of imported lamb was seized because the meat did not display the proper stamps. Inspectors had seized almost 1 ton of seafood and meat on the island of Salamina on Tuesday. Violent intruder An 88-year-old woman was hospitalized with serious injuries yesterday after a would-be robber burst into her home in Aegaleo, eastern Athens, and struck her on the head with a heavy object. After the attack, the intruder started grabbing household appliances but ran off when the victim’s daughter entered the room, police said. Migrants intercepted Port Authority officials on Tuesday detained 95 would-be migrants – 47 of whom arrived on Aegean islands and 48 who had tried to board ferries to Italy.
