Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-02-22

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Ôurkish MP, author presents novel in Thessaloniki

[02] Illegals located aboard 4 Turkish trucks

[03] Weather Monday -- Snow, rain

[04] Convicts repeat chopper escape

[05] Ergotelis downs Olympiakos

[01] Ôurkish MP, author presents novel in Thessaloniki

In the book, Anadol, a high-ranking CHP deputy in the neighbouring country from the Izmir district, recounts the daily lives of ordinary Greeks, Turks, Armenians and Jews in the 20 years before the Asia Minor catastrophe in 1922 in the then Smyrna, Istanbul, Fokaia and Aivali.

"History is not exclusively comprised of the sounds of canons and swords, smoke, gunpowder and marches; history is also love stories, love, hate, music, cuisine and trade between ordinary people," the author and politician said.

[02] Illegals located aboard 4 Turkish trucks

According to reports, authorities were initially searching for hidden narcotics in the four trucks, following a tip-off.

All four lorry drivers, Turkish nationals, were arrested on migrant-smuggling charges.

[03] Weather Monday -- Snow, rain

[04] Convicts repeat chopper escape

Paleokostas and Rizaj were spirited away by helicopter on June 4, 2006 from the courtyard of Korydallos prison near Piraeus, in a spectacular operation masterminded by Paleokostas' brother Nikos, a fugitive from justice.

Vassilis Paleokostas was re-captured on August 2 in Thessaloniki, in northern Greece, and was named by police as the mastermind of the abduction two months earlier of Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (SBBE) president and industrialist George Mylonas outside Thessaloniki, who was later released after his family paid a hefty ransom.

Rizaj was captured three months after the escape in the coastal village of Prodromos in Viotia prefecture, while fugitive Nikos Paleokostas was arrested a few weeks afterwards near Livadia, also in Viotia prefecture, after years of eluding police capture.

Second escape

According to reports on Sunday, the helicopter in the second escape flew low over the Korydallos prison and its crew lowered a rope ladder, with which the two inmates climbed up to the helicopter, which then flew off unmolested. Questions remained as to whether prison guards fired shots at the helicopter. The helicopter was later discovered, without its occupants, near the small community of Afidnes, due north of Athens and adjacent to the main Athens-Thessaloniki highway that runs north to south.

Justice minister asks for resignations

In an initial statement, Justice Minister Nikos Dendias, whose portfolio includes correctional facilities, merely noted that "I will not tolerate this insult. All the necessary measures will be taken, no matter how strict they may be."

He later followed up his comment hours later by stating that he has requested the resignations of three top officials, two justice ministry secretaries and the penitentiary's warden, while stressing that an appellate-level prosecutor has been asked to officially open an investigation.

Caption: Police officers are shown investigating the scene where the helicopter used in the brazen escape of two convicts from a Greek prison landed, north of Athens, on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. ANA-MPA / ALEXANDROS BELTES.

[05] Ergotelis downs Olympiakos

Results of other action over the weekend:

Panserraikos Serres - Levadiakos 1-0

Thrasyvoulos Athens - Panthrakikos Komotini 0-2

Larissa - Aris Thessaloniki 1-1

Asteras Tripolis - AEK Athens 0-1

Xanthi - OFI Crete 0-0

The standings after 23 weeks:

1. Olympiakos 57

2. Panathinaikos 46

. PAOK 46

4. AEK 41

5. Larissa 35

6. Aris 32

7. Panionios 29

. Xanthi 29

9. Panthrakikos 28

10. Ergotelis 27

11. Iraklis 26

12. Asteras 25

13. Levadiakos 22

14. Panserraikos 21

15. OFI 19

16. Thrasyvoulos 13

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