Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-03-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Police-Suspect-Death

[02] Stephanopoulos-Independence Day

[03] Simitis-Elections-Interview

[04] Elections-Opinion Poll

[05] Illegal Immigrants-Deaths

[06] Weather Forecast-Sunday

[07] Summer time begins on Sunday

[01] Police-Suspect-Death

THESSALONIKI (ANA) - An 18-year-old youth was shot to death on Saturday during a scuffle with a police officer in this northern port city.

A statement released by Thessaloniki police headquarters identified the youth as Nikolaos Leonidis, a Georgian of Greek origin.

[02] Stephanopoulos-Independence Day

President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos on Saturday delivered a customary message marking the start on March 25, 1821 of Greece's war of independence from the Ottoman Empire.

The historic day was inextricably linked to concepts of freedom, independence and national defence, and enriched in recent times of peace by growth and progress, Stephanopoulos said.

[03] Simitis-Elections-Interview

Prime Minister Costas Simitis wants a "clear victory" for his ruling PASOK party in national elections on April 9 in order to ease Greece's expected entry into the euro zone.

"A strong government is needed to tap the greatest benefits from the process of talks on Greece's move towards the euro zone. A government with a fresh mandate so that it may effectively promote the country's interests," Simitis told the Sunday Ethnos newspaper in an interview.

[04] Elections-Opinion Poll

The ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) and conservative New Democracy party may run neck-and-neck in national elections on April 9, according to the final opinion poll allowed under voting law.

The poll, commissioned by privately-owned Antenna radio and TV, shows 35.5 percent of the electorate voting for PASOK; 35.1 percent for New Democracy; 4.7 percent for the Communist Party of Greece; 4.1 percent for the Democratic Social Movement; 3.7 percent for the Coalition of the Left and Progress; and 2.9 percent for other parties.

[05] Illegal Immigrants-Deaths

PIRAEUS(ANA)- Coastguard authorities on Saturday found the bodies of eight illegal immigrants floating in waters off the eastern Aegean island of Kos.

The dead, who included men, women and children, were migrants trying to sail illegally into Greece from Turkey. Their nationality and identity had yet to be ascertained, island coastguard officials said.

[06] Weather Forecast-Sunday

Scattered cloud is forecast throughout the country on Sunday, possibly turning showery in the northwest. Some areas will see early morning mist.

Winds will be southerly, light to moderate, gradually turning strong.

[07] Summer time begins on Sunday

The European Union, including Greece, switches to summer time on Sunday when clocks should be set one hour ahead, the transport and communications ministry said.

On Sunday at 3 am clocks should be reset to show 4 am, the ministry said in a statement.

Summer time ends on Sunday, Oct. 29.

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