In Brief
ALTERNATIVE PLANS
Blood donations stopped in northern Greece due to virus The Health Ministry denied yesterday that Greece faces a shortage of blood for transfusions and operations after authorities stopped people in northern Greece, where the West Nile virus has infected dozens of locals, from donating blood. The ministry said that blood from other parts of Greece would be sent to the affected areas to cover any shortfall and that donations of blood made in the north over the last few days would be screened as of Monday to ensure that it does not contain the West Nile virus. The number of people who have contracted the disease rose from 60 to 64 yesterday but only 31 of these are still in the hospital, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO). Eight cases are being treated in intensive care. LOW-KEY ELECTIONS Local polls shorn of fanfare Candidates in the November local elections will not be allowed to pass out flags or put up large banners and posters, according to a circular issued by the Interior Ministry. Local government hopefuls, however, will be allowed to project messages or images onto walls, as long as they have the approval of municipal councils. Also, candidates will not be allowed to set up promotional kiosks in public spaces that are larger than 2m x 2m x 2m. The use of megaphones or public announcement systems will also be banned, the ministry said. Petroupoli blast A large explosion yesterday morning destroyed a cafe that was part of a cultural complex owned by the Municipality of Petroupoli in northwestern Athens. The blast, believed to have been caused by an explosive device, occurred at about 4 a.m., when the cafe was closed. The adjacent Petras Theater does not seem to have been damaged by the explosion. The cafe was privately run after being leased out by the municipality. Fatal crash Three young men were killed in car crash on the Athens-Thessaloniki national road in Pieria, northern Greece, yesterday. Traffic police said that car in which the three men were traveling collided head-on with a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. The couple in the other car were seriously injured and taken to the hospital. The accident happened on a stretch of highway where road work is taking place and cars must divert into the opposite lane for a short distance. Officers said that the diversions are clearly marked. River chase A suspected human trafficker and eight illegal immigrants were arrested on the Evros River in northeastern Greece yesterday. All nine were in a boat that failed to stop when asked to do so by border guards. The alleged smuggler jumped from the vessel and hid in marshland in the river delta but was found shortly afterward. Bar stabbing A bar owner in the town of Aghios Nikolaos in Lasithi, Crete, had to undergo surgery late on Tuesday after being stabbed while at work. Police officers said that the man was attacked by an Albanian national, who then struck his head as he tried to evade arrest. The attacker was also taken to the hospital. It was not clear what prompted the attack.
