The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-03-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Caused in an Albanian Arms Dump

16 Mar 2008 14:21:00 (Last updated: 16 Mar 2008 17:59:40)

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA-ÌPA,Reuters,BBC, AP

The massive explosions at an arms dump in Albania have the magnitude of national disaster. The number of victims remains unspecified, while nine people are reported dead, dozens missing and over 250 injured, 12 of which are in critical conditions. However, government sources speak of at least 60 dead. The victims include many women and children of a nearby village, many of which had been working the camp. Rescue teams have begun approaching the site of the tragedy with caution at noon, as fresh blasts take place. The blast took place in Gerdec, 12 kilometres north of Tirana Saturday.Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis has expressed Greeces sympathy when he communicated with his Albanian counterpart Sali Berisha, informing him that Greece will offer every possible aid. Greek hospitals have already received injured, while a military aircraft carrying blood and medical staff has arrived in Tirana. The Albanian PM described the incident a terrible tragedy.

Consecutive Blasts

The first blast took place in the afternoon when American pyrotechnists were trying to disarm old ammunition dating back to World War II in an ammunition dump. The blast was so powerful that it was registered as a tremor at the Geodynamic Institute of Strasburg, while the echo was heard in Skopje, about 200 kilometres away. More blasts followed dispersing ammunition in a two-kilometre angle. The blast had made craters, some as big as 50 meters in diameter and 20 meters deep.

As per the Albnanian PM about 200 houses were destroyed completely, while 300 more remain uninhabited. About 4,000 people have left their homes, while the countrys infrastructure including telecommunications has suffered extensive damage. Moreover, Tirana airport also closed temporarily.

"Ten minutes passed before the biggest blast and many workers used this time to flee," its statement said.

In the nearby village of Gerdec, several homes stood only as skeletons, the bricks around their concrete pillars shattered and the red roof tiles blown all over the hillside. The shockwave uprooted shrubs and cut olive trees down to stumps.

According to information, 110 civilians and an unspecified number of military personnel were in the military installations.

The Interior minister spoke of trapped people in the dump, adding that only when the blasts stop they will be able to come out.

The American Pentagon issued an announcement which reads that it knows nothing about dead or injured American civilians or military personnel.

Many people have been hospitalized, while the area has been cordoned off.

Mr Berisha promised an official inquiry into the accident after visiting victims in hospitals in Tirana. "The problem of ammunition in Albania is one of the gravest, and a continuous threat," Mr Berisha said. It is estimated that about 100,000 tons of ammunition is scattered across Albania. The ammunition will have to be removed if Albania wishes to join NATO.

Translated by John Crystallidis

Read the story on other sources:

BBC - Rescuers near Albanian blast site

Related News:

Bloody Explosion in Albania

[02] POE-OTA Decision Expected

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA-ÌPA

The situation remains tense outside the Ano Liosia landfill as POE-OTA (Self Government Organisations) is holding a meeting there due to the arrival of five MAT (Riot Police) squads that are carrying teargas and which are aiming at allowing garbage trucks to have access to the landfill. DAKE (Democratic Independent Workers' Movement) did not accept POE-OTA (president's proposal to transfer the General Committee there and left the Federation's offices. POE-OTA is thinking of continuing with its strike, which has transformed the Attica basin a vast garbage dump, despite the partial garbage collection from sensitive spots. The bill on the Social Security System, passed by the Social Affairs Committee will be debated at a plenary session Monday. Meanwhile, Self Government employees will decide today on the further stance, following yesterday's fruitless meeting with the Employment minister. The Federation' General Assembly is favouring the continuation of the strike at least until Wednesday, when GSEE and ADEDY will stage their strike. Meanwhile, POP-OTA (Contract Workers-Self Government Organisations) has adopted a different stance after stating that it appears to be satisfied with the minister's commitments. Meanwhile, the partial garbage collection in Attica is continuing today after POE-OTA allowed 150 garbage trucks to enter the Ano Liosia landfill.

Week of Strikes

GSEE and ADEDY trade unionists decided to stage a 24-hour strike for next week. Lawyers, engineers, doctors. pharmacists, probation assistants, journalists as well as representatives of 12 more scientific profession sectors issued an announcement expressing their reactions to the reform bill.

Representatives of productive classes stated that they are not willing to stop their fights against the reform which, as they believe, it is expected to have unfavorable effects for the majority of scientists around the country".

It must be noted that PPC strike continues as GENOP (General Federation of Employees of Public Power Corporation) announced a series of 24 hour strikes.

Lawyers will also go on a Pan Hellenic strike on Monday March 17 to Friday 21. OTOE and GSEE will proceed to a new 48 hours strike staged for next Monday and Tuesday March 19.

[03] PPC Stike on District Court

Athens District Court will examine today whether the GENOP-PPC (General Federation of Employees of Public Power Corporation) strike should be declared illegal and improper. Yesterdays meeting was intense as procedural issues came up while 7 GENOP-DEH witnesses testified. The lawyers of both sides are expected to express their stances today. What must be noted is that it is not clear yet whether the courts decision will be released until tomorrow evening. According to trade unionists decisions PPC strikes will continue as GENOP suspended the series of 24-hours strikes so as the appeal for insurance measures submitted by PPC board not to be examined. No power cut outs are expected for today, Sunday.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[04] Vote for PASOK National Council Concludes

.The vote for the new PASOK (Socialists) National Council members has concluded a little after 17:00 at the Tae Kwon Do Indoor Hall in Phaleron. The necessary technical details will be set so that the results are announced. The vote began at 09:00 Sunday, with the partys president George Papandreou voting early afternoon. The candidates for the National Council number 486, out of which 150 will be elected.

As per the amendment of PASOKs charter, participating in the National Council can be MPs, ex prime minister, presidents and secretaries.

Translated by John Crystallidis

Related News:

United in a New Course

[05] New Gallops

Sources: ÍÅÔ 105.8

MRB and RASS polls conducted for Typos tis Kyriakis newspaper shows that the political scenery remains uncertain. According to MRB poll ND preserves a 5,1% lead and 28,8% of preferences against 23% of people questioned who state that they would vote PASOK (The Pan-Hellenic Social Movement). KKE (Communist Party of Greece) was voted by 7% and SYN (Coalition of the Left) by 17,9% while 4,7% chose LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally). RASS poll reveales that New Democracy gathers 36,6% of preferences PASOK 24,5%, KKE 7,8%, SYN 17,7% and LAOS 4,2%. Kostas Karamanlis was voted as the most appropriate Prime Minister (36,6%), Giorgos Papandreou and Alexis Tsipras came second with 17,2%, while 21,2% state that "no one" is appropriate.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[06] Seven Killed in Rally in Tibet

By

Sources: ÁNA - BBC - REUTERS

Two pro-Tibetan organizations have announced that at least seven Tibetans were killed Sunday from Chinese police fire during a rally in the Tibetan part of Setzuan province in south-western China. Kate Saunders of the International Campaign for Tibet said that the rally had been disrupted violently, while the Tibetan Centre for Human Rightrs TCHRD spoke of 13 dead, among whom monks. As per the organisations site the demonstration began when thousands of monks gathered to pray. Then, they began chanting slogans in favour of Tibets independence and Dalai Lamas return. Later, they were joined by thousands of inhabitants who marched to the local governments headquarters.

Translated by John Crystallidis

Read the story on other sources:

Reuters: Tibetan riots spread, security lockdown in Lhasa

BBC 'Eighty killed' in Tibetan unrest

[07] United in a New Course

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA-ÌPA

Closing PASOKs Eight Congress George Papandreou its leader George Papandreou appealed for unity, adding that the 11 November encounter is a past. Mr Papandreou reiterated his proposal for the Left Wing to cooperate with PASOK, announcing PASOKs radical revival. At the same time, his proposal to man the Political Council with cadres who had not served as ministers or deputy ministers was approved In parallel, he accused the government of not offering anything to Greece, demanding its overthrow.

Vote on the Political Posts, the partys Charter and finances took place, while the partys National Council members will be elected Sunday. The candidates fro the National Council number 486.

Translated by John Crystallidis

[08] Meeting on FYROM Name Issue

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA-ÌNA

UN special envoy Matthew Nimetz will have another meeting with FYROM and Greece delegates in Vienna on Monday on FYROM name issue. The Greek government sends the message that if a mutually accepted solution is not found then there will be no Skopje invitation to NATO. Skopje president Branko Crvenkovski said that the chances of finding a mutually accepted solution will reduce if Greece does not change its stance. It must be noted that the leaders and representatives of the 4 biggest parties in Skopje decided to support the government until NATO Summit Meeting in April.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[09] For Security Reasons

16 Mar 2008 13:11:00

Sources: ANA,MNA

Ministers and close associates of Australian Kevin Rudds government are asked to reveal the secrets of their love life in order to protect themselves from possible blackmailing attempts. Ministers and 300 top members must fill in a 25 page questionnaire and answer to personal questions in an interview. They are called to confess whether they had any homosexual or extra-marital relationships the number of their love partners, if they have ever taken drugs as well as their favorite love habits.

Many consider these questions an invasion to their private lives but Mr. Rudds government thinks that these questions must be answered for security reasons.

Minister of Internal Affairs John Faulkner admitted that some members found the questions" unacceptably insulting". However he added that these members occupy "sensitive posts" and for security reasons the state is called to protect them from possible blackmailing attempts.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[10] Sunday of Orthodox Church

President of Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias attended today the holly ceremony taking place in Athens Holly Cathedral Church officiated by Archbishop Hieronymos. The members of the Constant Holly Synod will be hosted at noon in the Presidential Mansion for lunch.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[11] PASOK 8th Congress

16 Mar 2008 11:26:00

Sources: ANA, MNA

The voting which will determine which members will participate in PASOK National Council is in progress now in Tae Kwo Do stadium and will be completed at 5:00 in the afternoon. 7.000 congress members are expected to vote in 60 ballot boxes.

It is estimated that the congress members, candidates for the National Council are 486, 150 of whom are going to be elected.

According to the adjustment made in PASOK statute, parliamentary members, the Youth Secretary, former prime ministers, presidents and secretaries of the Socialist Movement are also going to participate in the Council.

The National Council elects the Political Council, the National Councils Secretary, the Constitution and Certification Committee as well as the Committee of Financial Controls.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[12] Accident in Manhattan

New York Fire Brigade Service said that a construction crane ripped free from its moorings and fell across a Manhattan block killing two and injuring many other.

The building was seriously damaged as well as nearby buildings while many cars were covered in rubble.

A fire brigade spokesman stated that a man is being hospitalized in critical condition. According to information there are other injured people too.

The unfortunate incident occurred yesterday in a block of buildings on 5th St. of Manhattan between the 1st and 2nd Avenue.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[13] Double Bombing Attack in Thailand

Sources: ÁNA-ÌNA, Reuters

Police announced today, Sunday that 2 bombs exploded in S. Thailand where Islamist separatists are involved in a bloody revolt during the last years.

A 20 pounds bomb was placed in a car which was parked outside a hotel in Pattani city. The explosive device exploded killing one man while 13 people were injured yesterday Saturday. Many officials who visit the area usually stay in this hotel.

According to official evidence Pattani is the capital city of the south province of Thailand where more than 2.500 people have died tragically from violent incidents that have broken out during January 2004.

A few hours after the first attack, a bomb was triggered by a mobile phone in a school in the same province resulting in the death of one fireman while 5 more people were injured. Firemen were trying to put out a fire that the explosive device had caused. When security forces arrived at the place and transferred the injured to a hospital, they run into an ambush by armed Islamists. According to police an armed man was seriously injured.

No one has taken responsibility for these two actions yet.

Security forces, Buddhist monks and state school teachers are frequently becoming targets of extremist separatists of the area that had been an independent Islamist sultanate before it was united with the Buddhist kingdom a century ago.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

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