Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-03-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis chairs urgent meeting on hooliganism after man's death in rumble

[02] NYC mayor honors Greek Independence Day

[01] PM Karamanlis chairs urgent meeting on hooliganism after man's death in rumble

An emergency meeting took place on Friday at the premier's Maximos Mansion office, chaired by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis himself, following a particularly violent clash a day earlier between up to 500 hooligans identified with two of Greece's foremost sports clubs, violence that resulted in the death of a 25-year-old man and the injury of several others.

The clashes came before a women's volleyball match between rivals Panathinaikos and Olympiakos outside an arena in an eastern Attica prefecture township (Peania), east of Athens proper.

The meeting was being attended by Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras, Justice Minister Anastasis Papaligouras and Deputy Culture Minister for sport George Orfanos.

Thirteen people are due to appear before a prosecutor later on Friday, accused of involvement in the violent incidents between the two groups of "fans".

The 13 were among 18 individuals brought in for questioning after what appeared to be a rumble, with some suspects armed with wooden planks and rocks.

There are no clear testimonies pointing at those responsible for the death of the man and autopsy results are expected to reveal the exact causes of death. According to hospital sources, the victim suffered severe head injuries and stab wounds.

One of the persons injured is a 22-year-old soccer player of fourth division club Marko, who was not taking part in the melee but was reportedly attacked by Olympiakos supporters outside a toy shop because he was wearing a green jersey (the colour of the Panathinaikos club). The perpetrators stabbed him in the thigh from inside a car and snatched his mobile phone.

Three shops and several parked cars in the area were damaged during the disturbances.

The troubling incident on Thursday comes after last Saturday ugly incident at the Greece-Turkey Euro Cup qualifier in Athens, when Greek fans in one section of stadium began scuffling amongst themselves.

[02] NYC mayor honors Greek Independence Day

During the event, Bloomberg presented to the president of the New York Federation of Greek Associations, Nikos Diamantidis, the established declaration for the "Day of Greek Independence".

The mayor of New York also hailed the contribution of the Greek-American community in the metropolis' social and economic life.

Present at the reception were Archbishop of America Demetrios, Consul General of Greece in New York, Ekaterini Boura, and the Consul General of Cyprus, Martha Mavrommati.

Caption: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. ANA-MPA / EPA / ���������������������MATTHEW CAVANAUGH

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