The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-08-08

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Everything Ready for the Opening Ceremony

08 Áõã 2008 09:56:00 (Last updated: 08 Áõã 2008 11:39:01)

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8

The opening ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games begins at 20:08 local time. Eight is considered by the Chinese their lucky number. NET will air live the spectacular opening ceremony of the 29th Olympic Games. The organizers of the Games are promising a spectacular show, as they have borrowed elements from the Moscow Olympics and the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games. As per the Chinese Olympic Committee, 80 leaders and about 91,000 people are expected to attend the opening ceremony, while security measures will be tight. Despite Chinas criticism over US President George Bushs intervention in the countrys domestic affairs Mr Bush stressed during the inauguration ceremony of the US Embassy in Beijing that everyone should be free to express ones view and enjoy religious freedom. The opening ceremony will end with the parade of the National Olympic Committees missions. As Greece is the birthplace of the Olympic Games, it will be parading first with its Olympic Champion and torch bearer Ilias Iliadis.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis has issued a message stressing the need for hostility and violent competition to be replaced by emulation and the peoples cooperation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dora Bakoyannis, who will be replacing Greece at the opening ceremony, reported that Greece had taken all necessary measures to prevent Skopjes plants to parade under the name "Macedonia."

Greek Olympic Committee President Minos Kyriakou delivered a letter of protest to the Chinese Organising Committee because the official FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) webpage on the Games launches itself as "Republic of Macedonia."

Translated by John Crystallidis

[02] Heavy Clashes in South Ossetia

Sources: ÁNA-ÌPA, Reuters, BBC

Heavy clashes between Georgian forces and autonomists have been raging since the night in the breakway province of South Ossetia. Georgian tanks and military forces have invaded regional capital, Tskhinvali the guerillas stronghold, while jet fighters have been pounding the guerillas positions in the wider area. As per a Russian TV Station correspondent, at least 15 people have been killed during the bombings. The Georgian Interior Ministry has reported that Russian bombers hit areas in the south. Georgia appears determined to continue with its operations until the "criminal regime" is overthrown and "constitutional order" is restored. From his side, autonomist leader Eduard Kokoity spoke of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvilis "devious and abject" act. Finally, the UN Security Council, which held an extraordinary meeting at Russias request, did not adopt the Russian statement for the end of the bloodshed.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[03] By Guantanamo Bay Military Tribunal

08 Áõã 2008 09:55:00

By Vivian Papastefanou

Osama bin Ladens former driver was sentenced by military tribunal system at Guantanamo Bay to 5 and a half years in prison last night, found guilty of "materially supporting terrorism. The sentence of five-and-a-half years for Salim Hamdan, handed down by a jury of US military officers in the first war-crimes tribunal to be held at Guantanamo Bay, fell far short of the 30 years incarceration sought by Bush Administration lawyers and means that the Yemeni is eligible for release in just five months. As soon as the sentence was issued, however, the Pentagon made it clear that it had no intention of releasing Hamdan. It says that it retains the right to keep him in prison for an indefinite period because he has been classed as an unlawful enemy combatant

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[04] Police Confiscated Weapons & Ammunitions

08 Áõã 2008 09:44:00

Secret agents in charge of US President and presidential candidates security arrested a 22-year-old man in Miami, charged with threatening to kill Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, according to the U.S. Secret Service and court records. Raymond Hunter Geisel allegedly made the threat during a class he was taking to become a bail bondsman, while he had also threaten to kill president Bush. A search of his truck and his Miami hotel room turned up weapons including a loaded handgun, armour piercing ammunition, body armour, knives and military fatigues, according to the document filed in U.S. District Court. Geisel was arrested Aug. 2. A federal magistrate judge today ordered him held without bond pending further hearings. One of Geisels classmates said that in late July Geisel referred to Obama using a racial epithet and said he would assassinate him if hes elected, according to the Secret Service agents affidavit. He also allegedly made a less specific threat against President George Bush though he wasnt charged with threatening the president. Geizel himself denied that he threatened to kill Obama. Obama was in Florida on Aug. 1 and 2, though not in the Miami area.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[05] One Suspect Killed

08 Áõã 2008 08:40:00

By Vivian Papastefanou

Two armed men stormed into a bank in Lisbon, Portugal last night and kept three people hostage. Security officials surrounded the bank, blocked off access and ordered nearby businesses to close. In parallel, a special police squad took positions around the bank. With some of the incidents broadcast live on Portuguese television, initially the police negotiated with the gunmen who released a woman hostage. Eight hours later the armed men took the two hostages and tried to leave the bank. At that moment the police opened fire, shooting to death one of the suspects and seriously injuring the other. The hostages were rescued, with one of them suffering minor injuries during the operation.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

[06] Threatening Video

Sources: ÁNA-ÌPA

A Muslim separatist group in China has made a new video threat against the Beijing Olympics, warning Muslims to keep their children away from the games, IntelCenter a US group that monitors extremists said Thursday.

The IntelCenter released a copy of the recording, attributed to the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP). The speaker urges Muslims to keep their children from the competition, and warns "Do not stay on the same bus, on the same train, on the same plane, in the same buildings, or any place the Chinese are," SITE said. In July, the Washington-based IntelCenter said TIP had taken credit in another video statement for a deadly bus bombing in Shanghai in May and warned of new attacks in China during the Olympics.In the video, dated August, 1, the speaker describes the barbarity of the Chinese regime against Muslims and east Turkestan to justify the jihad declared against the communist regime, says Intel Center.

Translated by Chrisanthi Sarantis

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