Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-01-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Call on EU's Greek president to keep bloc out of war on Iraq

[02] Gov't, parties decry bookstore attack on authors of terrorism book

[03] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Saturday

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[01] Call on EU's Greek president to keep bloc out of war on Iraq

The Coalition of the Left and Progress on Saturday asked Greece, the European Union's rotating president, to make sure that the 15-nation bloc stayed out of any war with Iraq.

''The Greek presidency should play a decisive role in preventing the EU from again being swept along by the US,'' the party's leader, Nikos Constantopoulos, told reporters.

''There is enough leeway for a common European stand that could avert a war,'' he added.

[02] Gov't, parties decry bookstore attack on authors of terrorism book

The government on Saturday condemned an attack by masked thugs on two journalists who jointly authored a book on the November 17 terrorist group.

The attack on reporters Alexis Papahelas and Tasos Teloglou earlier in the day occurred when the two were signing copies of their work, entitled ''17'', at a bookstore presentation in central Athens.

About 15 youths smashed the store's window, hurled paint and tore books off shelves before fleeing.

''This act runs contrary to freedom of the press and the free movement of ideas. It also reveals the masked attackers' extremist, anti-democracy views,'' government spokesman Christos Protopapas said in a statement.

Also condemning the incident as a breach of free speech were the main opposition New Democracy party and the Coalition of the Left and Progress.

[03] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Saturday

All parts of the country will see scattered cloud that is likely to turn to showers from afternoon; and early morning mist will restrict visibility. The west will see rain and storms most of the day. Snowfall is expected on high ground in the centre and north. Winds variable, moderate to very strong, turning gale force in parts of the Ionian. In the north, temperatures will range from -1C to 10C; in the west from 7C to 13C; and in the rest of the country from 7C to 16C. Temperatures in Athens between 8C and 14C; and in Thessaloniki from 4C to 10C.

[04] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.073

Pound sterling 0.663

Danish kroner 7.493

Swedish kroner 9.248

Japanese yen 123.3

Swiss franc 1.471

Norwegian kroner 7.332

Cyprus pound 0.583

Canadian dollar 1.643

Australian dollar 1.815

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