Planespotters to fly back for court appeal
LONDON (Reuters) – A group of British planespotters convicted on security charges in Greece six months ago appealed yesterday for Prime Minister Tony Blair to take up their case as they prepare to return on Thursday for their appeals court trial next Monday. Blair later met Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis who was visiting London as part of a tour of EU capitals. «I think there will be a positive development but… it’s for the courts to decide,» Simitis told reporters afterward. A Downing Street spokesman said Blair raised the matter with Simitis. Fourteen British and Dutch enthusiasts were convicted in April of illegally obtaining national secrets after being arrested at the Kalamata military airport. Eight were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and six were given one-year suspended sentences. All were released and allowed to go home pending an appeal.
