This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6965337.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Foreigners help fight Greek fires Foreigners help fight Greek fires
(40 minutes later)
Firefighting aircraft from several countries are helping Greece tackle devastating forest fires that have killed at least 60 people.Firefighting aircraft from several countries are helping Greece tackle devastating forest fires that have killed at least 60 people.
Large swathes of Greece - from the island of Evia north of Athens to the Peloponnese in the south - have been ravaged by the inferno since Friday.Large swathes of Greece - from the island of Evia north of Athens to the Peloponnese in the south - have been ravaged by the inferno since Friday.
Greek police have arrested 32 arson suspects, as investigations continue into the origins of the blazes.Greek police have arrested 32 arson suspects, as investigations continue into the origins of the blazes.
A 1m euro (£678,000) reward has been offered to help catch fire-starters.A 1m euro (£678,000) reward has been offered to help catch fire-starters.
Dozens of new fires continue to break out, fanned by hot, dry winds.Dozens of new fires continue to break out, fanned by hot, dry winds.
'War footing'
The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, says the police and intelligence services will be keen to discover if there is any link between the suspected arsonist, and whether they are part of an organised scorched earth campaign.
Greece has the feel of a country on a war footing, our correspondent says.
See map of affected areas
Soldiers are patrolling suburban neighbourhoods trying to catch arsonists in the act and anti-terrorist squads have been questioning some suspects.
Meanwhile, a top Greek prosecutor has ordered an inquiry into whether arson attacks can be considered terrorism, and prosecuted under Greece's anti-terror laws.
Treating arson as a potential act of terrorism would give authorities broader powers of investigation and arrest.
The fires have gutted hundreds of homes, forcing thousands of villagers to flee and blackening hillsides.The fires have gutted hundreds of homes, forcing thousands of villagers to flee and blackening hillsides.
Water-bombing aircraft from France, Italy and Canada are in action, with more international aid expected.Water-bombing aircraft from France, Italy and Canada are in action, with more international aid expected.
class="bodl" href="#map">See map of affected areas Ancient site safe
Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympics, was in danger on Sunday, but firefighters managed to keep it safe.Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympics, was in danger on Sunday, but firefighters managed to keep it safe.
The hill of Kronos, overlooking Olympia, was engulfed by fire In pictures: Greek inferno
Culture Minister George Voulgarakis went to Olympia, in the Peloponnese, to oversee the emergency effort.Culture Minister George Voulgarakis went to Olympia, in the Peloponnese, to oversee the emergency effort.
"All the people, the firefighters, the policemen, the volunteers, they fought with the fire and the museum is as it was.""All the people, the firefighters, the policemen, the volunteers, they fought with the fire and the museum is as it was."
The BBC's Dominic Hughes on the island of Evia says several massive fires are burning in the thickly wooded hills. On Sunday five bodies were found on the island.The BBC's Dominic Hughes on the island of Evia says several massive fires are burning in the thickly wooded hills. On Sunday five bodies were found on the island.
"Over the weekend the sky was grey-brown over Athens and Kifissia, the air full of smoke and the sun - a dim spot," said Gabriella Gosevits, an Athens resident, in an e-mail to the BBC News website."Over the weekend the sky was grey-brown over Athens and Kifissia, the air full of smoke and the sun - a dim spot," said Gabriella Gosevits, an Athens resident, in an e-mail to the BBC News website.
"There was ash all over the place and the smell of burnt wood was everywhere.""There was ash all over the place and the smell of burnt wood was everywhere."
Thousands of Greek firefighters are being supported by 20 water-bombing planes and 19 helicopters. At least 11 countries are helping Greece fight the fires with planes, helicopters and specialist firefighters.Thousands of Greek firefighters are being supported by 20 water-bombing planes and 19 helicopters. At least 11 countries are helping Greece fight the fires with planes, helicopters and specialist firefighters.
Suspected arsonists Fires 'deliberate'
Nikos Diamandis, a Greek fire department spokesman, told the Associated Press news agency: "Fires are burning in more than half the country. This is definitely an unprecedented disaster for Greece."
The hill of Kronos, overlooking Olympia, was engulfed by fire In pictures: Greek inferno
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has declared a nationwide state of emergency.Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has declared a nationwide state of emergency.
The reward, put up by the Greek government, is for anyone providing information which leads to the arrest of an arsonist.The reward, put up by the Greek government, is for anyone providing information which leads to the arrest of an arsonist.
"The reward is set between 100,000 and 1m euros for every [act] of arson, depending on whether death or serious injury occurred and the size of the damage," a Greek government statement said. One theory is that the fires could have been started as a way of getting around Greek law which forbids development on areas designated as forest land.
The fires could have been started as a way of getting around Greek law which forbids development on areas designated as forest land. The head of the conservation charity WWF Greece, Demetris Karavellas, told the BBC's World Today programme that Greece lacked a forest registry, "so in many cases it's not entirely clear what is forest and what is land for construction".
"There is strong pressure for tourism, for more and more development... I hope the public, at least, with the amazing damage that we are going through right now, will really create a lot more political pressure," he said.
At ancient Olympia, flames licked the edges of the original Olympic stadium and scorched the yard of the museum, home to one of Greece's greatest archaeological collections.At ancient Olympia, flames licked the edges of the original Olympic stadium and scorched the yard of the museum, home to one of Greece's greatest archaeological collections.
Athens itself was shrouded in smoke that obscured the sun as several fires threatened the city's outskirts.Athens itself was shrouded in smoke that obscured the sun as several fires threatened the city's outskirts.
Peloponnese worst hit
The rapidly advancing fires caught many people unaware. Those who left the decision to flee too late were caught in their houses, cars, or as they stumbled through olive groves.The rapidly advancing fires caught many people unaware. Those who left the decision to flee too late were caught in their houses, cars, or as they stumbled through olive groves.
At least 39 people were reported to have been killed in the worst affected region, around the town of Zaharo in the western Peloponnese, by a fire that broke out on Friday and quickly spread. name="map"> At least 39 people were reported to have been killed in the worst affected region, around the town of Zaharo in the western Peloponnese, by a fire that broke out on Friday and quickly spread.
Another four bodies were discovered in the central Peloponnese region of Arcadia.
A 65-year-old man has been charged with arson and murder relating to a fire which killed six people in Areopolis, in the far south of Greece.
Two youths were also detained on suspicion of arson in the northern city of Kavala.
The head of the conservation charity WWF Greece, Demetris Karavellas, told the BBC's World Today programme that Greece lacked a forest registry, "so in many cases it's not entirely clear what is forest and what is land for construction".
"There is strong pressure for tourism, for more and more development... I hope the public, at least, with the amazing damage that we are going through right now, will really create a lot more political pressure," he said.
Return
Return
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the fires? You can send us your comments and experiences using the form below:Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the fires? You can send us your comments and experiences using the form below:
You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.
Click here to see terms and conditions Click here to see terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Name:
 Name: