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| Greek PM pledges speedy fire aid | Greek PM pledges speedy fire aid |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Greek government has promised to speed up compensation for those who have lost their homes in the fires ravaging the country. | The Greek government has promised to speed up compensation for those who have lost their homes in the fires ravaging the country. |
| The government, which has called for national unity, is facing a rising tide of criticism over its response to the forest fires. | The government, which has called for national unity, is facing a rising tide of criticism over its response to the forest fires. |
| At least 63 people have died in the blazes since Friday. | At least 63 people have died in the blazes since Friday. |
| The fires remain unpredictable and emergency services are still struggling with the effects of swirling winds. | The fires remain unpredictable and emergency services are still struggling with the effects of swirling winds. |
| In the worst-hit areas, there are signs some fires are under control, says the BBC's Dominic Hughes in Athens. But the unpredictable wind direction means that when some fires are thought to be contained, they flare up again. | In the worst-hit areas, there are signs some fires are under control, says the BBC's Dominic Hughes in Athens. But the unpredictable wind direction means that when some fires are thought to be contained, they flare up again. |
| href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188386750/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188386750/html/1.stm', '1188386836', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=550,height=353,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Satellite images show how the spread of the fires is changing href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188386750/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_enl_1188386750/html/1.stm', '1188386836', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=550,height=353,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image | |
| "In the name of God and Mary, do something! We've been asking for help since Friday," one distraught caller told Greek TV from the village of Matesi on the southern Peloponnese peninsula, the area worst hit by the fires. | "In the name of God and Mary, do something! We've been asking for help since Friday," one distraught caller told Greek TV from the village of Matesi on the southern Peloponnese peninsula, the area worst hit by the fires. |
| "We can't see anything - the smoke is so thick. We can't escape any more, there is no way out. We are 40 people and we will burn," he said. | "We can't see anything - the smoke is so thick. We can't escape any more, there is no way out. We are 40 people and we will burn," he said. |
| Arson suspicions | Arson suspicions |
| The government, which declared a national state of emergency at the weekend, has promised to act quickly to restore power and water to areas devastated by forest fires. | The government, which declared a national state of emergency at the weekend, has promised to act quickly to restore power and water to areas devastated by forest fires. |
| I've been coming here for the last 15 years on holiday with my children. It was a paradise here and now it is hell Fire survivor Greeks face fire dilemma Counting the fires' eco-cost | I've been coming here for the last 15 years on holiday with my children. It was a paradise here and now it is hell Fire survivor Greeks face fire dilemma Counting the fires' eco-cost |
| Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said houses would be rebuilt and forests re-planted. | Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said houses would be rebuilt and forests re-planted. |
| Everything possible should be done to prevent young people becoming disillusioned and leaving devastated villages, he added. | Everything possible should be done to prevent young people becoming disillusioned and leaving devastated villages, he added. |
| "The government has decided the priority will be to the villages with the greatest number of fatal victims - Artamitha, Makistos and Smirna from the municipality of Zaharo," government spokesman Bororis Resopolis said. | "The government has decided the priority will be to the villages with the greatest number of fatal victims - Artamitha, Makistos and Smirna from the municipality of Zaharo," government spokesman Bororis Resopolis said. |
| Greece battles against devastating forest firesIn pictures Mr Resopolis restated the government's view that many of these fires were started by arsonists. | Greece battles against devastating forest firesIn pictures Mr Resopolis restated the government's view that many of these fires were started by arsonists. |
| Anti-terrorist police officers are questioning some suspects. Ministers have said Greece could be facing a new type of terrorist attack. | Anti-terrorist police officers are questioning some suspects. Ministers have said Greece could be facing a new type of terrorist attack. |
| A 1m euro (£680,000) reward has been offered to help catch those responsible. | A 1m euro (£680,000) reward has been offered to help catch those responsible. |
| There have been 120 major forest fires this year, compared to just 52 in of 2006. | There have been 120 major forest fires this year, compared to just 52 in of 2006. |
| With a general election due next month, the opposition Socialists have attacked the government for what they call its inability to protect people's lives and describing the handling of the crisis as a "national humiliation". | With a general election due next month, the opposition Socialists have attacked the government for what they call its inability to protect people's lives and describing the handling of the crisis as a "national humiliation". |
| I spent Saturday night on the roof of my house watching a fire steadily progressing down the mountain towards us PatienceBBC News website reader in Kalamata Send us your comments | I spent Saturday night on the roof of my house watching a fire steadily progressing down the mountain towards us PatienceBBC News website reader in Kalamata Send us your comments |
| Vaso Papandreou, an MP for opposition party Pasok, said there was a lack of co-ordination from the government. | Vaso Papandreou, an MP for opposition party Pasok, said there was a lack of co-ordination from the government. |
| "The army should be in from the first moment and it took some days, at least three days [for] the army to join the fight," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "The army should be in from the first moment and it took some days, at least three days [for] the army to join the fight," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| "The weather conditions are very difficult and we knew that this summer would be very difficult and there was no preparation, and no co-ordination. Nobody knew who was responsible for... giving the orders for the whole situation. | "The weather conditions are very difficult and we knew that this summer would be very difficult and there was no preparation, and no co-ordination. Nobody knew who was responsible for... giving the orders for the whole situation. |
| "The result is a real tragedy and we feel ashamed as Greeks that it was not possible to protect the ancient Olympia." | "The result is a real tragedy and we feel ashamed as Greeks that it was not possible to protect the ancient Olympia." |
| 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. |
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