Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-07-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather Forecast: Maximum temperature of 41C on Friday

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[03] PM's choice for party secretary approved by PASOK central com't

[01] Weather Forecast: Maximum temperature of 41C on Friday

Hot, sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country. Storms may break out on high ground in Epirus and Thrace from late afternoon. Winds northwesterly, light. In the west and north, temperatures will range from 20C to 38C; on the rest of the mainland from 21C to 41C; and in the Aegean islands from 24C to 38C. Temperatures in Athens will range between 24C and 41C; and in Thessaloniki from 22C to 38C.

[02] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.154

Pound sterling 0.695

Danish kroner 7.493

Swedish kroner 9.247

Japanese yen 136.8

Swiss franc 1.564

Norwegian kroner 8.337

Cyprus pound 0.592

Canadian dollar 1.551

Australian dollar 1.699

[03] PM's choice for party secretary approved by PASOK central com't

Prime Minister Costas Simitis' choice for the post of ruling PASOK partys secretary, Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis, was approved by a majority of the party's central committee members on Thursday.

The vote followed Simitis' unexpected move a day earlier to request the resignation of previous party secretary Costas Laliotis, one of the ruling party's top cadres.

Simitis had earlier tabled Chrysohoidis' nomination while addressing the urgently called PASOK central committee meeting in downtown Athens.

Chrysohoidis, who will now leave the public order portfolio, received 118 votes, while 50 ballots were blank and another nine invalid. He was the only candidate for the post.

In other statements, Simitis again directly referred to elections in 2004, which comes in the face of widespread speculation amongst local political circles that early elections will be scheduled for the autumn. Additionally, he reiterated his opposition to Cabinet ministers serving on the new executive bureau and vice-versa, saying the coming election campaign necessitates a clear delineation of duties for better results.

Citing the eyebrow-raising resignation of Laliotis, a former long-time public works minister, Simitis said he asked the former to rejoin the government on Wednesday, something Laliotis declined.

Chrysohoidis term at the public order ministry was highlighted by the unprecedented arrests of nearly two dozen ?November 17? terrorist suspects as well as detailed planning for the all-important security component of next years Olympic Games in Athens.

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