that were not connected, therefore could not explode.

According to today's publication in the "TA NEA" newspaper, police forces and members of the anti-terrorism service, located and neutralized a quantity of explosives under a carriage in the Strymonas region in the prefecture of Serres. The train had depa rted from Bulgaria and was traveling to the Thessaloniki harbor, where it was supposed to load quantities of propane and then return to Sofia.

According to statements made by Greek Police Spokesperson Lefteris Economou to Flash Radio, the case became known to the Greek authorities, after information given to them by a Bulgarian national. According to the information there was a trapped train co ming from Bulgaria with four empty tanker carriages.

In the search that was carried out, pointed out Mr. Economou, a small quantity of explosives, an electronic detonator and various other parts were found under one carriage, however they were not connected to one another and could not explode.

After a thorough search, the train arrived at its destination and transferred the propane back to Bulgaria, while the Bulgarian informant was questioned by the anti-terrorism service and is expected to be deported back to his country.

According to the Spokesperson of the Greek Police, the most probable scenario is that members of the Bulgarian mafia are implicated, aiming at misleading the Greek authorities, while it is also considered possible that the case was staged in order to mak e a profit off the increased security measures in Greece due to the upcoming Olympic Games.

The Olympic Games and mainly the issue of security are the first priority of the new government, and it has now taken on new dimensions after the terrorist attack in Madrid. Information mentioned that the Greek government is prepared to ask for the opera tional participation of NATO in the framework of the Olympic security measures.

Today, Mr. Karamanlis will hold meetings with the Ministers of National Defense, Tourism, Transports and Finance. The Minister of the Environment, Planning and Public Works Giorgos Souflias will visit Olympic works and the Minister of Health, Mr. Nikitas

Kaklamanis, will visit the Olympic Village with the President of the "Athens 2004" Olympic Organizing Committee, Gianna Aggelopoulou.

To the question of what scares them most, the 12 Greeks answered immediately, "everything and nothing. Life in the city has just as many unexpected events and dangers".

The members of the mission will be fully equipped, while they were given the opportunity to organize themselves in the best possible way. The climbers - among whom Cypriot Kyriakos Nisiforou - will move in opposite directions aiming at maximizing their c hances of achieving their goal. The first team will move to the north (beginning from Tibet) led by Costas Tsivelekas and the other team will move south (from Nepal) led by Panagiotis Kotronaros. With the support of the local Serpa tribe and 50 kilos wort h of equipment on their backs, the team aims at placing the Greek and Cypriot flags and the "Athens 2004" banner at the top of the world.

Mr. Stephanopoulos expressed his personal condolences and the condolences of the Greek people.

Of the stocks trading today, 169 had gains and 101 had losses, while the value of 123 stocks remained unchanged.

The Foreign Minister met with US ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller who stated that he had an excellent cooperation with the previous government and expects that the same will happen with the new government as well to minimize the dangers in view of the Athens Olympic Games.

The Foreign Minister also had meetings with the ambassadors of Ireland and Russia.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos stated that in completion of the process already underway the government called on NATO today to offer its assistance for the safety of the Olympic Games mainly in the sectors of air vigilance, the common s upervision of the sea region and the protection from a chemical, biological or radiation incident.

Greek Police director Lefteris Economou made statements on the case today. According to Mr. Economou, a freight train made up of 16 empty cars entered Greece coming from Bulgaria in the evening of March 8 with destination Thessaloniki's Train Station. A suspect package was located in the last car that belonged to a Bulgarian fuel company. The investigation that followed showed that it contained 700gms of explosive material and two detonators, which, however, could not cause an explosion because they were

not assembled into an explosive device.

Mr. Economou stated that a Bulgarian national was examined within the framework of the preliminary investigation. The individual in question is in police custody awaiting deportation because he was in Greece illegally.

According to Mr. Economou, the incident is not linked with terrorist action.