Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-04-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Young paraplegic dies in ambulance crash

[02] Businessman arrested in fraud against foreign job-seekers

[03] Main opposition blasts gov't over farm policy

[04] New border pass with Albania opens

[05] Key section of east-west highway to open in 2003

[06] Weather Forecast: Unsettled weather on Sunday

[07] Fifteen-year-old confesses to murder of elderly woman

[08] Weather Forecast: Cloud, sunny spells on Saturday

[09] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[01] Young paraplegic dies in ambulance crash

A young paraplegic died after an ambulance carrying him to hospital for emergency treatment collided with a tourist bus in central Athens on Saturday.

The crash occurred when the ambulance jumped a red traffic light and collided with the bus, which was pulling out of a side-street after the lights had turned green, police said.

Eyewitnesses reported that the ambulance's siren and flashing light were both in use at the time of the accident.

The victim, identified as Antonis Karaiskou, 23, died shortly after arriving in hospital. Firemen were called to release the ambulance's passengers and driver who were trapped when the vehicle overturned.

Karaiskou's sister, the ambulance driver and an accompanying doctor were reported injured but out of danger.

Traffic police have launched an enquiry into the accident.

[02] Businessman arrested in fraud against foreign job-seekers

A businessman with recruitment agencies in Canada and Greece has been arrested following allegations that he fraudulently offered Cambodians, Indonesians and Thais construction jobs in Greece in return for payment.

Ioannis Petropoulos, 56, who is wanted by Greek authorities on other counts, is due to appear before a public prosecutor after his arrest on Friday by Attica police's organised crime division. Interpol had requested the arrest.

According to police, Petropoulos and accomplices operated a firm in Canada called JRN International Corp. last year that extorted 500-1,000 US dollars each from 1,263 Cambodians in their country of origin on fake offers of work in major Greek building projects.

After repeating the pattern in Thailand and Indonesia, Petropoulos launched a company in Athens named Century 21 in the same line of business as the Canadian operation.

Cases have been brought against Petropoulos in the three countries he visited for recruitment, including a class action suit in Thailand, where plaintiffs received damages from their country's government.

In addition to incriminating documents found in Petropoulos' Athens office, police located a Mercedes he owned that carried stolen German licence plates.

Petropoulos is liable for 59 months in prison due to three past convictions for breach of the law on cheques and non-payment of national insurance contributions, police said.

[03] Main opposition blasts gov't over farm policy

The main opposition New Democracy party on Saturday charged Prime Minister Costas Simitis with failing to generate a comprehensive farm policy, and neglecting to intervene personally at the European Union's executive Commission.

''Among the main reasons for today's (adverse) conditions are the lack of an integrated agricultural policy with immediate, medium-term and long-term controls,'' ND leader Costas Karamanlis told farmers and business representives in the prefecture of Viotia.

''Not even once has Mr. Simitis been to Brussels. He has not followed the example of other prime ministers who have fought personally to protect their farmers' rights and back their countries' output,'' Karamanlis said.

He claimed that Greek agricultural produce was losing traditional markets abroad, and being ousted from the home market.

[04] New border pass with Albania opens

A new border pass with Albania has opened at Ripesi in the prefecture of Thesprotia, bringing the total to five, officials said on Saturday.

The two major border posts between Greece and Albania are at Kakavia and Krystallopiyi, with three smaller passes at Voidomatis, Sopiki and Ripesi, the latest addition.

The new pass was inaugurated on Friday by the neighbouring country's public order minister, the officials said.

[05] Key section of east-west highway to open in 2003

Public Works Minister Vasso Papandreou said on Saturday that a key stretch of the Egnatia Way, which links the country's northeast and northwest, was to open to traffic at the end of 2003, earlier than planned.

Speaking in the north, Papandreou said she had secured agreement from the engineering contractor handling the project for early completion of a section linking Grevena and Veria, including a bypass.

Construction of the Egnatia Way, the longest road currently being built in Europe, was hampered by difficult terrain, Papandreou added.

The minister attended the opening a 4.7-kilometre road tunnel in the prefecture of Ioannina, the country's longest.

[06] Weather Forecast: Unsettled weather on Sunday

The day will start sunny in many parts of the country, turning to showers and storms in the northern Ionian, Epirus and Macedonia from early evening. In the rest of the country, the weather will be cloudy from late afternoon with showers likely on the mainland. Early morning visibility will be limited. Winds south-southwesterly, light. In the north, temperatures will range from 8C to 21C; on the rest of the mainland from 10C to 24C; and in the islands from 13C to 22C. Mostly sunny in Athens, with temperatures between 12C and 23C. Rain and storms in Thessaloniki from early evening, with temperatures from 9C to 21C.

[07] Fifteen-year-old confesses to murder of elderly woman

A fifteen-year-old schoolboy arrested in connection with the stabbing death of an elderly woman last week has confessed to the crime, police said on Saturday.

The body of the woman, identified as Laura Demenikioti, 68, was found in her apartment in an Athens suburb three days ago with two stab wounds in the heart.

The youth, in detention since his arrest on Friday evening, claimed that his motive was theft, police said.

A charge sheet has been sent to a public prosecutor handling offences by minors.

[08] Weather Forecast: Cloud, sunny spells on Saturday

Light cloud and sunny spells are forecast in all parts of the country, which may turn to rain or storms in the north. Limited visibility due to mist is expected early in the morning. Winds variable, light. In the north, temperatures will range from 8C to 19C; on the rest of the mainland from 10C to 22C; and in the islands from 13C to 21C. Mostly sunny in Athens, with temperatures between 11C and 21C. Rain and storms in Thessaloniki from early evening, with temperatures from 9C to 19C.

[09] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Indicative tourist buying rates per euro until Monday

U.S. dollar 0.904

Pound sterling 0.622

Danish kroner 7.493

Swedish kroner 9.304

Japanese yen 116.1

Swiss franc 1.476

Norwegian kroner 7.635

Cyprus pound 0.581

Canadian dollar 1.414

Australian dollar 1.663

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