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| Greek MPs row over fire response | Greek MPs row over fire response |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Opposition MPs in Greece have attacked the government's response to the country's devastating forest fires, which have claimed at least 63 lives. | Opposition MPs in Greece have attacked the government's response to the country's devastating forest fires, which have claimed at least 63 lives. |
| The leader of the Socialist (Pasok) party, George Papandreou, said the government was "totally incompetent". | The leader of the Socialist (Pasok) party, George Papandreou, said the government was "totally incompetent". |
| Correspondents say the fires are likely to dominate political debate head of a general election on 16 September. | |
| The PM said the poll would proceed as planned but his priority was the victims, not political point-scoring. | |
| "We are continuing a determined struggle against the fires," Costas Karamanlis said. | |
| See map of affected areas | See map of affected areas |
| The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, says Greece has the feel of a country on a war footing, and says it is awash with theories about who could have set fire to the land. | The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, says Greece has the feel of a country on a war footing, and says it is awash with theories about who could have set fire to the land. |
| 'Absolutely nonsense' | 'Absolutely nonsense' |
| In the capital, Athens, hundreds of people took to the streets in protest. | In the capital, Athens, hundreds of people took to the streets in protest. |
| The hill of Kronos, overlooking Olympia, was engulfed by fire In pictures: Greek inferno | The hill of Kronos, overlooking Olympia, was engulfed by fire In pictures: Greek inferno |
| Some of the demonstrators said they believed the fires were deliberately started by property developers in order to clear the land for development. | Some of the demonstrators said they believed the fires were deliberately started by property developers in order to clear the land for development. |
| However, the president of the Hellenic Property Federation, Stratos Paradias, told the BBC that the suspicions were unfounded. | However, the president of the Hellenic Property Federation, Stratos Paradias, told the BBC that the suspicions were unfounded. |
| "That's absolutely nonsense, this allegation, because if there is a company which wants to get its hands on some piece of land, to burn this land is the worst way to do it. | "That's absolutely nonsense, this allegation, because if there is a company which wants to get its hands on some piece of land, to burn this land is the worst way to do it. |
| "Once a forest is burnt, according to our constitution, within three months the Forestry Service is obliged to pass a decree according to which this land is reforested." | "Once a forest is burnt, according to our constitution, within three months the Forestry Service is obliged to pass a decree according to which this land is reforested." |
| The people here are angry, frustrated and sad Jona DesselbergerBBC News website reader, in Athens | The people here are angry, frustrated and sad Jona DesselbergerBBC News website reader, in Athens |
| Meanwhile, seven people have been charged with arson and a further 26 face lesser charges linked to the fires that have blighted Greece since July. | Meanwhile, seven people have been charged with arson and a further 26 face lesser charges linked to the fires that have blighted Greece since July. |
| Anti-terrorist squads are involved in the investigation, and a 1m-euro (£678,000) reward has been offered to help catch those responsible. | Anti-terrorist squads are involved in the investigation, and a 1m-euro (£678,000) reward has been offered to help catch those responsible. |
| The government declared a state of emergency over the weekend as new fires, fanned by hot, gusting winds, continued to break out around Greece. | The government declared a state of emergency over the weekend as new fires, fanned by hot, gusting winds, continued to break out around Greece. |
| On Monday, terrified residents in Frixa in western Peloponnese were airlifted to safety by helicopters after being cut off by fire and thick black smoke. | On Monday, terrified residents in Frixa in western Peloponnese were airlifted to safety by helicopters after being cut off by fire and thick black smoke. |
| Isolated villages have been cut off in the region, sparking fears that the death toll could rise further. | Isolated villages have been cut off in the region, sparking fears that the death toll could rise further. |
| 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: |
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