Olympics-Greece guerrilla trial may extend until Athens Games

The Greek government had hoped that the trial of several members of a left-wing revolutionary--the ELA-- group would have ended by the opening of the Olympics, but an extension will drag the trial on through the Games.

The five suspects have been on trial since February and face charges of "setting up and participating in a terrorist group".

The ELA has claimed responsibility for two murders and dozens of attempted murders and bomb attacks on Greek and foreign targets since 1975. The group last claimed responsibility for an attack in 1995.

Its victims include a deputy prosecutor and a senior police official, who were killed in 1989 and 1991. But it has also bombed U.S., German, French and European Union targets, as well as Greek police and tax offices.

BBC:

Fury over ceremony rumours

A British newspaper has reveled secret details of the opening ceremonies, and roundly irritated Greek officials.

Olympic officials have been angered by a newspaper article claiming to reveal details of the Athens Games opening ceremony on August 13

[. . .]

"We're wasting our time on rumours and leaks which create a bad atmosphere," said Greek minister George Voulgarakis.

6:47:09 AM    comment []trackback []