Greece offers small team
Greece will provide a “small team” of soldiers to take part in any European Union operations in Mali, the Defense Ministry said yesterday. Deputy Defense Minister Panayiotis Karabelas made the commitment during an informal EU defense summit in Dublin. He said Greece was also willing to help with any training requirements.
Gold mine protesters.
Fourteen people who were arrested during a protest against the Skouries gold mine in Halkidiki, northern Greece, last October are to face trial on November 21 after their case was postponed yesterday because the court ran out of time to hear it. The defendants face a range of charges including disturbing the peace and resisting arrest. Dozens of people had gathered outside the Halkidiki court to express support for the suspects and opposition to the mining project.
Kidnappers sentenced.
Five people were sentenced yesterday for kidnapping the daughter of Nikos Gondas, former mayor of Ioannina, in September 2011. One man received a 22year term, another two were given 19 years and four months in jail, while two women were given suspended four-month terms. Gondas called on authorities to also track down the “moral instigators” behind the abduction.
Citizens’ helpline.
Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis yesterday announced that a citizens’ helpline, 1595, would resume operating on February 25. The helpline, which will operate between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily, will be manned by staff who will respond to citizens’ queries about issues related to all municipal services.
Korydallos killing.
A 51-year-old man died on Wednesday night after being brutally beaten by two young men in Korydallos, near Piraeus. According to witnesses, the two young men, aged 24 and 31, got into an argument with the 51-yearold on a bus. The three got off the bus on Grigoriou Lambraki Street, where the two young men were seen beating the 51-year-old. Officers in a police patrol car saw the attack as it was happening and arrested the two assailants. The 51-yearold was rushed to the nearest hospital, where he died shortly afterward. The cause of the argument was unclear.
Car thief.
A 22-year-old Albanian man wanted for 88 car break-ins on the Dodecanese island of Rhodes in the past four months faced a prosecutor yesterday on multiple theft charges. A 31year-old Albanian believed to have been his accomplice was arrested a few days ago.