Athanasaki and Agapiou testified before Special Examiner Leonidas Zervobeakos yesterday, who deemed that they should be incarcerated and await trial. They spent the night in the holding cells of the General Police Direction of Attica and were taken to Co rydallos in anti-terrorism service jeeps today, where Aggelatos Kanas and Christos Tsigaridas were already being held.

Irene Athanasaki and Kostas Agapiou were taken to the women's block, in the high security cells. According to information, Athanasakis' cell is next to that of Aggeliki Sotiropoulou, charged with participation in the "November 17" terrorist group.

Meanwhile, DA Kyr. Karoutsos resigned from the ELA case yesterday, calling on the "extreme amount of work", while he was about to decide on whether the suspects were to be incarcerated to await their trial. His position was taken over by Assistant DA Kon . Vompiris. According to version of the "Avgi" newspaper, Mr. Karoutsos believed that the offense of participating in ELA was not covered by the statute of limitations, that being the only offense for which the suspects were imprisoned, while three of the

suspects denied participating in the organization.

In contrast to the N17 case, judicial authorities believe that there is not enough evidence for a strong case against ELA.

It is characteristic that Police Chief Fotis Nasiakos announced yesterday that the top members of ELA have been arrested, and that there will probably only be another two arrests of outside cooperators. But the authorities had described ELA as a multi-me mber organization following political procedures, in contrast to N17.A fact that confirms that the failure to arrest suspects is due to lack of evidence.

Meanwhile, another document against the war in Iraq, signed by hundreds of Greeks and thousands of Europeans, will be delivered to the UN offices in Athens, by PASOK EuroMP Myrsini Zorba.

The PASOK EuroMP, escorted by director Thanasis Papageorgiou and authors Manos Kontoleon, Filomila Vakali and Loti Petrovic-Androutsopoulou, will meet with the Head of the UN offices in Athens, Maria-Luiza Chavez, whom she will ask to forward the demand of those who signed for no war to take place, and for a peaceful solution to be found.

Mr. Tziolas stated that the meeting in Grevena is regarded as very important because its conclusions and proposals will concern the European Employment Strategy revision and the evaluation of the Lisbon agreement implementation course.

The meeting will be held with the participation of about 60 representatives (undersecretaries, general secretaries, general directors) from the 15 EU member states.

The government spokesman stated that the issue of Mr. Pantagias' resignation has been closed, while referring to whether he will run in the next parliamentary elections, he stated that this is an issue that will concern the party.

Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas stated that Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in the discussion he had with the two leaders had the opportunity to exchange views on the crisis in Iraq and assess the conditions created after the statements made

by US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Of the stocks trading today, 233 recorded gains and 81 had losses, while the value of 57 stocks remained unchanged.

Specifically, Mr. Loscertales stated that Thessaloniki's candidature plan has the support of its people and the Greek government.

Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos met with Mr. Loscertales in Paris and pointed out that Thessaloniki has many advantages like the know-how from the Olympic Games and its geographic position.

He will be received by Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos and have meetings with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, Public Order Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis, Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and the ambassador of Switzerland to Athens.

Specifically, after the presentation made by the responsible Assembly Work Group and its President Giorgos Katiforis, the Assembly Plenary Session decided to mention social justice and solidarity in article 2 of the Treaty (European Union Values).

Article 3, in which the EU goals are outlined, includes full-time employment, sustainable development, the social economy of the market, social protection, economic and social cohesion, the protection of children's rights, equality of the sexes and the p romotion of a high level public health system.

The proposals presented by Mr. Katiforis were accepted by the Assembly with an overwhelming majority a fact that proves, according to statements he made afterwards, that the peoples of Europe and their representatives want a new Europe with a social prof ile.

Mr. Papandreou, who is on a Middle East tour launched on February 2 for talks aimed at averting a possible war in Iraq, stated that all possibilities should be exhausted to avoid war, adding that there is still hope for a peaceful solution.

Moreover, in response to a question on whether he was afraid of a possible explosive reaction by the Arab world in the event of a war in Iraq, Mr. Moratinos said ''I am afraid about many things, but it is my wish to assist with stabilising the situation' '.

Mr. Papandreou stated that efforts continue in support of a diplomatic solution, while peaceful efforts are being made toward a settlement in the Middle East problem. He added that the EU supports the Cairo talks calling also for the implementation of th e "Road Map" between Israelis and Palestinians.

An Egyptian initiative led to a second meeting of all Palestinian organisations on Wednesday and Thursday in an effort to persuade them to denounce violence and condemn all terrorist actions. Their representatives asked for more time to reply.

Meanwhile, Mr. Papandreou also met with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Maher and Arab Association Secretary-General Amr Mousa.

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