Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-08-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] Wildfires ebb as massive relief, reconstruction effort commences

[02] PM thanks Greek, foreign fire-fighting crews

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Wildfires ebb as massive relief, reconstruction effort commences

Two sites in utterly devastated Ilia prefecture, in the western Peloponnese, and yet another front in Evia island, off eastern continental Greece, dominated fire-fighting efforts on Wednesday, although the danger now lies in the rekindling of wildfires in the numerous locations from where they passed since Thursday afternoon. Two new wildfires were reported in northwest Ioannina prefecture, as the country remains in the state of emergency - declared on Saturday - all amid ongoing scrutiny and rampant speculation of arson as the cause behind the scores of wildfires.

Meanwhile, Wednesday witnessed the first full day of state-led efforts to aid stricken individuals and areas, with an emergency allocation of 3,000 euros per affected household dolled out, on the heels of a series of measures to aid homeowners, farmers and business owners affected by the fires.

Local banks have also announced a series of relief measures, ranging from a complete write-off of debts for those enduring the loss of close relatives and major material losses to a blanket deferment of payments for credit cards and loans for borrowers in affected areas. The state has also deferred or halted payments to social security funds and the tax bureau in fire-ravaged regions. Total pledged donations, in money and material assistance by the private sector and individuals, has also easily exceeded the 150-million-euro mark.

Caption: Israeli fire-fighters take a much-needed respite after battling a wildfire in the Kyloudia district, in the fire-ravaged western Peloponnese prefecture of Ilia, on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007. ANA-MPA / G. KORBAKI.

[02] PM thanks Greek, foreign fire-fighting crews

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

A monster wave of deadly wildfires in half the country, especially in the Peloponnese, again dominated the headlines of Athens' dailies on Wednesday, as the official death toll stood at more than 63.

ADESFEFTOS TYPOS: "Touching solidarity by Greek people. Massive donations for fire stricken"

APOGEVMATINI: "3,000 euros in immediate aid, beginning today with a simple application"

AVRIANI: "Danilo gang behind a 'cottage industry' manufacturing counterfeit euros, heading weapons smuggling and drug rackets"

AVGI: "10 proposals for forests by Coalition of the Left leader Alekos Alavanos"

CHORA: "People's rage. Thousands of homeless from fires"

ETHNOS: "Shameful scenes with ND (party) affiliated 'vultures' in fire-ravaged areas"

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Prime minister ordered the 'torching' of red tape. A silver lining in the cloud"

ELEFTHEROS: "Crescendo of mudslinging by (main opposition PASOK leader George) Papandreou"

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "190,000 hectares burned in three days"

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Asymmetrical: No measure can cover up the chaos and disorganization of the state"

ESTIA: "Now is the time to re-establish the state"

KATHIMERINI: "Conflicting views in public opinion: Criticism of the state's response, along with assessment that country attacked with plan to set fires"

LOGOS: "Prime minister demands immediate relief of fire stricken population"

RIZOSPASTIS: "Plans for business activity atop the ashes"

ÔA ÍEA: "ND propaganda atop the ashes"

VIMA: "Fires, elections burning the economy

VRADYNI: "Compensation made easy with one application"

Caption: A Russian helicopter fills its basket with water off the Ionian Sea coast of Ilia prefecture, western Greece, 28 August 2007. Foreign firefighters and aircraft joined the battle over the weekend against blazes in southern Greece. ANA-MPA/VASSILIOS KOUTROUMANOS

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