Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-07-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis will lead PASOK into the 2004 elections, party convention told

[02] Police questions suspects of ''November 17'' terrorist case, no arrests

[01] Simitis will lead PASOK into the 2004 elections, party convention told

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Friday underlined his determination to lead ruling PASOK into the next general elections, which he stressed would take place in early 2004, at the end of the government's four-year term.

In his address to open a PASOK convention that began on Friday, the prime minister unequivocally ruled out the possibility of early elections and put an end to speculation about a possible succession of leadership in the party.

He said he had come to identify his political course with the achievement of major goals by Greece and the people, and that he wanted and would be present, given the will and mandate of the electorate, in 2004.

He outlined his main policy goals at the head of a new government as being those of convergence with the European Union, the holding of historic Olympic Games, Cyprus' accession to the EU, a settlement of differences with Turkey over the Aegean continental shelf, strengthening the country's international position and ensuring peace and security in the region.

Simitis particularly stressed PASOK's socialist orientation and ideals, while he said that the modernist drive was more than just the sum of isolated demands by special pressure groups but an overall drive for change in society.

[02] Police questions suspects of ''November 17'' terrorist case, no arrests to date

Police has made no arrests in relation to the terrorist organization ''November 17'' as was reported in the press, a police spokesman said on Friday, stressing that when such arrests are made the police will announce them.

He underlined that the dissemination of gossip was not helpful to the effort of the police and stressed that the investigation was continuing within the bounds of legality.

The spokesman thanked the citizens for their willingness to help the authorities.

Sources, however, noted that the typewriter used by the murderous group to write its proclamations was found in the safehouse of downtown Athens and that police expected to find, in the same hideout, the ''historic'' .45 caliber handguns used in most of the murders claimed by the terrorist group.

The same sources said that police questioned three persons that are on the suspect list for participation in the ''November 17'' terrorist group, but did not arrest them.

Also, sources within the judicial authorities said that five persons were at the sights of the police as the most likely suspects in connection with the shadowy group that murdered scores of people over the past 27 years, but no arrests would be made before the authorities felt confident of their chances to get convictions.

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