The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-05-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] Hooligans Clash in Lamia

Fans of rival sport teams clashed Saturday in central Greek city of Lamia, which was supposed to host the final four in handball. The clashes kicked off early on Saturday when PAOK fans attacked the offices of AEK in Lamia, hurling a petrol bomb. Bloody clashes followed between the fans of the rival teams. The final four was postponed.

Seven Got Injured, Two Got Arrested

The clashes between the fans of two rival sport teams, PAOK and AEK, in the heart of Lamia resulted in seven people getting injured and two getting seized.

The clashes commenced when about 100 PAOK fans, who arrived in Lamia early on Saturday morning, stabbed two AEK fans outside their team's offices. The injured men were hurried to hospital.

The attackers then hurled a petrol bomb at the AEK offices. It was the tear gases fired by the police that pushed them away.

Shortly afterwards, the AEK fans started to gather. The few police officers dispatched to the site could not prevent them from reaching a central square in the city and hurling petrol bombs at the police and the PAOK fans.

After 15 minutes of "war-like" clashes that torched several kiosks and spooked the passer-bys, police managed to put an end to the clashes.

As a result, authorities decided to have the final four postponed until further notice.

Reactions

"The new serious clashes between hooligans in the city of Lamia this time have proved that violence on the occasion of sport events has assumed highly alarming dimensions. The repeated incidents tarnish the sports ideal, raising, at the same time, questions as to the stance of the Civil Protection Ministry. It is high time the political leaders of the said Ministry claimed their responsibilities by taking essential measures and not just announcing their intentions," commented Conservative deputy and section head for Civil Protection affairs Nikos Dendias.

Source: NET, NET 105.8, ANA/MPA News item: 37076

[02] New Hikes in Insurance Premiums for Car Owners

A new hike in insurance premiums is on the way. Insurance premiums for cars will rise by 9%, while those for bikes will rise by 46% as of June, raising the maintenance cost for car and bike owners.

The new hikes will be added up to the rise in insurance premiums imposed at the beginning of 2009.

The increased insurance premiums have made several car holders to cancel their insurances, resulting in about 500,000 vehicles travelling uninsured.

News item: 37075

[03] British Government Hit by Scandal

Chief Treasury Secretary David Laws has apologised after it emerged he had been claiming MPs' expenses to rent rooms in homes owned by his partner. Mr Laws said he would immediately pay back the money which the Daily Telegraph said totalled £40,000.

He said his motivation was to keep the relationship with the man private and not to reveal his own sexuality. David Cameron said he agreed with Mr Laws's decision to refer himself to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.

Since 2006 parliamentary rules have banned MPs from "leasing accommodation from a partner". The Liberal Democrat cabinet minister claimed up to £950 a month for eight years to rent a room in two properties owned by his partner, James Lundie, according to the Daily Telegraph. Mr Laws said he claimed back the costs of sharing a home in Kennington, south London, with Mr Lundie from 2001 to June 2007.

The Yeovil MP said his partner bought a new home, in London, in June 2007 and he continued to claim back his share of the costs until August 2009.

The minister said he extended the mortgage on his Somerset property to help Mr Lundie purchase the new property.

Mr Laws said: "At no point did I consider myself to be in breach of the rules which in 2009 defined partner as 'one of a couple... who although not married to each other or civil partners are living together and treat each other as spouses. "Although we were living together we did not treat each other as spouses - for example we do not share bank accounts and indeed have separate social lives."

Source: BBC

News item: 37074

[04] Little Girl Shot in the Head

A little girl, 8, which was shot in the head, is in a critical condition at the hospital where it underwent a really serious operation.

According to information, shortly before 9pm on Friday evening, the father rushed his girl, who was bleeding all over after sustaining a shot in the head, to the hospital.

The girl was immediately taken to the surgery room and the police was called in.

The girl's father told the police that his daughter was playing in their house's garden when she got shot. News item: 37072

[05] Gaza Aid Mission Runs into Trouble

The technical failures that kept two ships carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip docked at the Famagusta port in Cyprus could be blamed on sabotage. The other ships have set sail, despite Israel's reactions.

The organisers of the aid initiative, the Free Gaza Movement, did not out sabotage after the two Greek boats experienced technical issues, after checks showed that no technical mistakes had been made.

In the meantime, one of the passengers on one of the mission's boats, said that the stricken boats remained off Cyprus, as the island's authorities did not allow the MEPs to board the ship.

The organizers believe that the Cypriot authorities succumbed to Israel's pressures. Nicosia, though, denied it.

Israel, on the other hand, has made it clear that it would not allow the mission's boats to reach their destination. News item: 37071

[06] Agreement on Freeing Mideast of Nuclear Weapons

Taking a pivotal step towards peace, the 189 signatories that attended review of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty agreed to a final document calling for steps towards freeing the Middle East of nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction.

Such an agreement is hoped to make Israel sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and discard its nuclear weapons.

It could also force other nations in the region to put a stop to any projects of chemical of biological guns they are running.

However, US officials said that until peace prevails in the region, it cannot be achieved.

The agreement was welcomed by all interested parties, including the USA which is Israel's ally. However, the USA expressed its grave sorrow over Israel's stance.

News item: 37070

[07] "Kallikratis" Bill Fully Okayed by Greek House

After six marathon sittings, the Greek House fully okayed the government's plan to redraw local government boundaries, better known as "Kallikratis." Interior Minister Giannis Raggoussis also announced the government's intention to hold talks on the system used for the elections of the local governors in June. He also made it clear that the government would stick to its position included in the "Kallikratis" bill, urging, at the same time, the opposition parties to look for common grounds.

Source: NET, NET 105.8

News item: 37059

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